I’m no longer in practice, incidentally, and regret not being able to provide this service and train residents. Our health care system is very different from Canada’s, and many gynecologists end up either changing states or leaving practice entirely. Hopefully Obama’s health care reform will take hold—we need a better system.

And for this freedom, this luxury of choice, I have you, and others like you – doctors, nurses, and other health care providers & supporters – to thank. To you and future doctors like the one who commented above me on this thread, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Although we are from different countries, with different laws, the stand you make strengthens us all.

And I can’t thank you enough for having the courage to make it.

Kindest Regards,
EJ Keith, Ottawa, Ontario

Don’t rush the “coming out” part. It’s an individual choice. I was very careful when I was in practice, especially after I had my daughter. It changes one’s perspective, since it isn’t just about you. But being careful isn’t synonymous with denial. I never lied about what I did and remain proud and humbled to have provided this service to many women. But it’s admittedly easier to be “out” in terms of abortion once one has left clinical practice. Many of my fellow abortion providers were genuinely scared in the 90’s and with good reason. Several providers were shot and killed, along with courageous volunteers and staff. That changed things quite a bit. So there’s nothing wrong at all with flying under the radar. But still, many established providers need to declare themselves or at least not deny what they do when asked. The more providers who speak out, the better. Good luck with your training. Guess I can’t talk you out of being a doctor.

Great post. Very powerful.

I’m currently in my last year of medical school. I have organized abortion training opportunities at my school since my first year. Now that I am in my internship years, I have also had the privilege of working with and learning from practicing providers. I am looking forward to a career where I can be involved in the full spectrum of women’s reproductive health. An abortion-providing baby-delivering doctor is not an oxymoron. In fact, I think it is a pretty awesome combination.

Your call for “coming out” of providers does not fall on deaf ears. I agree with you completely. I’m not quite there yet, unfortunately. The pseudo-anonymity of twitter et al. has made it easier for me to share my thoughts and passions. As I gain confidence, and, more importantly, a sense of interconnectedness to like-minded people, the need for anonymity is diminishing.