O2158: Bridging the Provider Knowledge Gap: A Toolkit on Reproductive Rights by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Surgery (SOSu) and American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Joint Advocacy Committee

Background: The ripple effect of the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has impacted providers and patients from numerous medical specialties. Pediatric surgery is a specialty in which the patient population ranges from fetuses to young pregnant patients. Providers from this specialty are uniquely poised to encounter challenging clinical scenarios which are unequivocally impacted by the ever-changing legal landscape. Despite the proximity to this issue, there is a notable gap in the knowledge of pediatric surgeons regarding current legislation, scope of practice, resources for patients, and opportunities to participate in reproductive rights advocacy. This project aims to bridge this gap by creating access to reliable resources which may be used to optimize patient care and support providers.

Project Description: We created a web-based toolkit with the purpose of providing easily accessible, frequently updated, and reliable information on reproductive rights in the United States. We collaborated with the education subcommittee of the Reproductive Health Coalition (RHC), co-founded by the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) and Doctors for America, to curate a list of resources which would be most beneficial for pediatric surgery providers. We identified up-to-date resources on abortion laws on a state-by-state basis from the Guttmacher Institute, AbortionFinder.org, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. We found legal resources for providers through the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) and If/When/How, complete with a legal emergency helpline number for any questions on provider liability and impact on patient care. We also identified several resources with information for patients seeking safe abortion care. Finally, we provided access to resources on getting involved in reproductive rights advocacy.

Discussion: A pivotal first step in advocacy is education. One of the main challenges in navigating reproductive rights issues is understanding the laws and their implications for providers and patients across the country. Our goal in this project is to establish a knowledge base for pediatric surgeons so that they can treat, counsel, and refer patients appropriately, armed with tools to obtain advice or recommendations from trustworthy organizations and legal experts. By using this toolkit, providers can more confidently approach difficult clinical scenarios and do their best for patients within their scope of training.

Conclusion: Pediatric surgery rests at a critical juncture with respect to reproductive rights in the United States. Our proximity to this rapidly changing issue creates an imperative to become informed and involved for the benefit of patients and the protection of providers. Our toolkit enables users to understand the current climate and identify next steps to advocate for patients and providers amidst a formidable legal environment.