HEATING UP THE ABORTION FIGHT

	  The American Medical Association, the American Board of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in mid-February, endorsed
revised medical educational standards which would require that
abortion skills be taught to prospective ob/gyn physicians.
(American Medical Association Press Release, 2/15/95).

									  US, TOO

	  At the same time, the (Dallas based) Council for Graduate
Medical Education, which oversees medical education, announced
that obstetrical residents must be taught abortion "how to."

	  Immediately a wail went up from the "Christian" Medical and
Dental Society (CMDS). Apparently an independent nationwide poll
of obstetricians was conducted in 1994 by the PPS Medical
Marketing Group in Fairfield, New Jersey. This revealed that
"over 59 percent" of obstetricians disagreed with the statement
that: "every OB/GYN residency training program should be mandated
to include elective abortion training."

	  This has led the "Christian" group to the conclusion that:

	  "the Council's decision is apparently induced by political
	  pressure from pro[sic]-abortion groups who want to force
	  their belief[sic] system on a medical community that has
	  largely rejected abortion."

	  Its spokesman said that the residency requirement would hang
over the head of residents and discourage many of them who oppose
abortion from entering the OB/GYN field.

									 USE 'EM

	  About the same time, the American Academy of Pediatrics
called for wider availability of condoms to young people who are
sexually active. The group's statement was immediately endorsed
by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).

	  PPFA pointed out that the United States has the highest rate
of teen pregnancy of any developed nation. It also has the
world's highest Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rate. Most
recent statistics indicate that the AIDS epidemic is spreading
fastest among women and teenagers.

	  The primarily religious "just stay ignorant" strategy
apparently is not working.

Source: Press Release, 2/15/95