 
June 2, 2003
Crystal Roberts Dear Ms. Roberts: The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a national organization of physicians in all specialties founded in 1943, supports H.R. 760, the Partial Birth Abortion Act of 2003. The partial birth abortion, also called an "intact dilatation and extraction," has no medical indications. We can conceive of no circumstance in which it would be needed to save the life or preserve the health of a mother. It is advisable or necessary in some instances to end a pregnancy early because of complications such as toxemia. This can be done by Caesarian section or inducing labor. The only purpose of the partial birth abortion is to assure that the end of the pregnancy is accompanied by the end of the life of a child about to be born. The procedure also carries the risk of maternal injury or death, as by uterine rupture or laceration and hemorrhage. The amicus brief that we filed with other organizations in the 2000 Supreme Court case captioned Stenberg v. Carhart has an extensive discussion of the medical issues. See www.aapsonline.org/judicial/pbabrief.htm. We urge Congress to pass H.R. 760. Sincerely yours,
Jane M. Orient, M.D.
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