ABSTRACT
The advent of medical abortion allows any physician to become an abortion provider. It means that every doctor who professes to believe in “choice” has to ask herself if she is willing to put her beliefs into practice. Physicians are well suited for activist roles, as their profession has evolved to emphasize, not only healing and teaching, but also empowering students and patients. Since the 2000 FDA approval of mifepristone (the medical abortion pill), a new kind of activism based on reproductive rights is growing among physicians and medical students. Through education, outreach, and networking, organizations such as Medical Students for Choice, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, the American Medical Women’s Association, and a coalition of like-minded organizations are helping physicians, in all stages of their training, to become abortion providers.
