Abortion

The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) affirms that human life begins at fertilization, also called conception. The exact biological moment that a human life begins is at the moment of sperm-egg fusion. At fertilization, the human being emerges as a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism, a member of the species Homo sapiens, needing only the proper environment in order to grow and develop. The difference between a human being in the adult stage and in the zygotic stage is one of maturational form and abilities, but both are equally human.  Every human being has inestimable value and is worthy of protection from fertilization until natural death.

ACPeds ascribes to the Hippocratic Oath which affirms that any induced abortion, including chemical abortion, takes the life of a human being and is therefore immoral.  ACPeds does not believe that the taking of human life through abortion is “healthcare.”  Not only does abortion kill a preborn child, but it can physically, psychologically, and emotionally harm the mother.  As pediatricians, we have a particular concern for the risks of abortion to adolescent women.

Some of the potential short- and long-term risks to the mother include mortality from the abortion, suicide, abusive situations such as sex trafficking and incest being concealed, and greater rates of substance abuse. Abortions that involve insertion of instruments or material into the uterus, including incomplete/failed chemical abortions which are then followed by surgery, result in a higher risk of morbidity and mortality for subsequent children due to significantly increased rates of prematurity, especially very extreme prematurity.

In rare cases in which the mother’s life is in danger from pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancies, the pregnancy may need to be ended to save the mother’s life. Saving both mother and child should be the goal whenever possible.

ACPeds believes that parents have the right and the primary responsibility to care for their children, and that parents play a crucial role in advising their adolescent children about a life-changing decision such as an abortion. Parental consent can better assure their involvement than can mere parental notification.

Approved by the ACPeds Board of Directors (May 2025)
Approved by ACPeds Members (June 2025)

Pertinent ACPeds Referenced Papers:

When Human Life Begins (March 4th, 2017)

Induced Abortion: Risks That May Impact Adolescents, Young Adults, and Their Children (August 1st, 2016)

Reproductive Choices of Young Women Affecting Future Breast Cancer Risk (October 1st, 2019)

Chemical Abortions: With and Without Medical Supervision (January 9th, 2023)

Parental Involvement and Consent for a Minor’s Abortion (May 1st, 2016)

The Teenage Brain: Under Construction (May 11th, 2022)