Thread by @DocElovitz

On 6/24/2022, when #Roe was overturned, I wrote a letter to those that I do research with. I have been asked to share that broadly. I know others in academia are afraid (for legitimate reasons) to share their voice. I am not unafraid but I have committed to not being silent 1/

the letter:
Friends and colleagues-
I have or am currently working with everyone on this email in various and important ways to advance reproductive & maternal health. In this pursuit & in my role as colleague, mentor, advisor, grant editor, etc, I feel beholden to send this 2/

I apologize for the mass email but I think one of the reasons that we are in this dire situation today is because the collective we are often too silent about those people and processes—‘outside of medicine’—that affect the health of women. 3/

As Elie Wiesel so eloquently and poignantly wrote, ‘silence favors the oppressors.” While I know my voice is not always wanted, I am undeterred and I will not be silent. 4/

As doctors and scientists, too many have fallen to the falsehood that we need to stay in ‘our lane’. But, as I know so many of you agree, politics is most definitely our lane. 5/

The fact is that politics, medicine and science are intimately intertwined and failure to recognize that, to address that, is what has led to the rising maternal mortality rates especially among Black communities; 6/

it is what has led to the number one killer of moms being homicide with no gun control; it is what has led to my daughters—and yours—having less rights, having less control over their own bodies that we did, than our mothers did. 7/

The overturning of Roe and the undoubtedly increased rates of maternal morbidity and mortality from the direct loss of abortion access as well all the other physical and mental harm that will occur due to removing autonomy from women will most definitely fall to our lane. 8/

In our state, it is unclear whether we will be able to help or just watch women die afraid of criminal retribution. In many states, women are already in bondage, unable to make decisions about their own bodies. 9/

. @acog called the decision destructive. But, even that is insufficient. The decision is deadly.

We do not get to shy away from the truth that is today. And, we do not get to shy way from the fact that medicine, national societies and 10/

our healthcare institutions have fostered if not empowered those that seek to destroy the rights of women.

I do not know the best next steps but I am confident that silence and complicity have failed us. 11/

Our collective research efforts are wonderful but they are woefully insufficient to advance maternal health if those we seek to help are unable to have bodily autonomy. 12/

To pursue maternal health research without pursuing reproductive justice is to do nothing.

We are obligated to do better. 13/fin