HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Guam Medical Association, in the interest of safety, has expressed opposition to the two bills focused on expanding and protecting abortion access on Guam.
If passed, Bill 111-37 and Bill 106-37 would implement additional protections and prohibit various restrictions on abortions through a series of provisions called the Health Protection Act of 2023, but according to the GMA several points within the two bills fail to recognize patient safety.
“Under Point 6, ‘the purpose of this Act is to allow healthcare providers to provide abortion services without limitations or requirements that single out abortion services that are more burdensome than those restrictions imposed on medically comparable procedures,’ the question here is what do you consider as medically comparable?”
“There really is no other medical procedure comparable to ending the heartbeat or extraction of another potential human being from a living human being. Abortion is a very unique procedure and we understand the access issue, but we must recognize safety first based on our environment of Guam,” GMA Executive Director Pramila Sullivan said in written testimony.
The GMA believes that the bills essentially waive all requirements for any provider to ensure the safety of the abortion services provided, including the providers training, experience and ability to address post abortion complications.
“As an example, you are permitting TelAbortion, where abortion pills are mailed in without a local associated medical provider who should be involved so that, when there is a post abortion complication, patients will be cared for,” Sullivan said.
Often times expectant mothers are not sure of their last menstrual period. As a result, ultrasounds are used to determine the gestational age of a fetus. That service is not provided in a TelAbortion which, the GMA said, places the patient at risk.
“We feel that all TelAbortions providers should identify an OBGYN on island to work with them so that in case of bleeding complications, the patients can receive the care they need to avoid the loss of their own life,” Sullivan said.
Point 6 under permitted services also waives the need for providers to be credentialed or to have hospital privileges.
“This is another burden to our local hospital and providers if post abortion complications arise and require surgical procedures,” Sullivan said.
The GMA is also concerned when it comes to the fetal viability term included in the bills. Under the Health Protection Act, abortions would be allowed after viability when the continuation of the pregnancy would pose a risk to the patient’s life or health.
“Your bill basically contradicts the science and evidence of fetal viability to 22-23 weeks of gestational age where the fetus has the possibility of survival,” Sullivan said. “So this language and fetal viability should be evidence-based and not based on faith of ‘medical judgement’.”
Dozens of anti-abortion protesters gather May 3, 2022, in front of the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña.
