Abortion Training for Medical Students and Residents

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision gives states greater discretion to restrict abortion, and a number of states have subsequently done so. This change has implications for medical training both for medical students attending medical school and for medical residents undertaking graduate medical education (GME) training in states with restrictive abortion policies. To be licensed to practice independently as a physician, one must complete medical school and a minimum of three years of GME. Though abortion training is optional for medical students, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) GME programs must offer this training. Residents with religious or moral objections may elect not to participate. Residents in other medical specialties, such as family medicine, may also seek abortion training, though programs are not required to provide this training.

Changes to the availability of abortion training may have broader effects beyond the availability of abortion services. For example, experts note that abortion training may also be useful in training providers in general obstetrical skills, such as how to manage miscarriages, and note that the loss of abortion training may have broader effects on the preparedness of future physicians and where they choose tolocate after they complete their training.

In the wake of the Dobbs decision, students and residents in states with restrictions may seek training in states where abortion is permitted. In addition, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the entity that accredits GME programs, has revised its training requirements for OB/GYN training programs to require that all programs, regardless of location, provide residents with access to abortion training in jurisdictions where there are no legal restrictions on abortion. This may create a scenario where students and residents may elect (or be required) to travel for abortion training, which may require additional costs for trainees or their programs. Sites absorbing additional trainees may also face challenges with expanding training, as they may require additional supervising faculty and space for new trainees..."
Abortion training and medical students