Opponents of the bill argue that blocking the training could worsen the physician shortage in rural areas.
This article was originally published in Residency Program Insider, July 21, 2017.
A bill introduced in the state legislature wants to prevent University of Wisconsin (UW) OB-GYN residents from receiving training on how to perform abortions.
State Rep. Andre Jacque, who authored the bill, says the training violates a 2011 state law that blocks the use of public dollars on elective abortions.
Under an agreement between UW School of Medicine and Public Health and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, UW physicians perform abortions and train OB-GYN residents in how to perform abortions. Those services are billed to Planned Parenthood, which reimburses the costs.
Opponents of the bill argue that blocking the training could jeopardize UW's OB-GYN program’s accreditation because the ACGME requires that abortion training be part of OB-GYN curriculum, although residents can opt out of it for religious or moral reasons. Oppenents are also concerned that the bill could worsen the physician shortage in rural areas.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
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