Catholic Medical Association Issues Support of The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in Joint Statement

Philadelphia, PA- April 17, 2021- Catholic Medical Association is deeply concerned about inequities in care for our most vulnerable patients, especially children born at the cusp of viability or with disabilities. We join our medical colleagues in the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM) representing approximately 30,000 members, in a statement supporting the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Life-limiting or life-threatening diagnoses are not life-negating. Each of our patients are human beings with value and worth. If born alive, regardless of the place or circumstances of their birth, all babies must be assessed and receive the appropriate degree of intervention as outlined by the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).

The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (BAASPA) helps ensure consistent care and avoid inequities, particularly protecting against inequities of race and demographic. In April of 2019, CMA issued this statement in support of the BAASPA.

Dr. Steven White, CMA Chair of Health Care Policy commented, “The failure of the United States Congress to pass the BAASPA to protect innocent, defenseless newborn survivors of abortion from infanticide is a tragic indication of the depths of depravity into which our American culture has descended and which, if not corrected, will eventually lead to our nations demise.”

The BAASPA would ensure that all physicians adhere to our Hippocratic duty to protect our patients and do no harm – regardless of the setting in which they work. The presence of the live newborn makes obvious the obligations of the physician-patient relationship.

Therefore, we support this Act on behalf of our youngest and most at-risk patients.

The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Pediatricians
Catholic Medical Association
Christian Medical and Dental Associations