California Medical Association (CMA) President Robert E. Wailes, M.D., issued the following statement today in response to the leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn abortion rights:

“We are gravely concerned that the U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to overturn the protections offered by Roe v. Wade and put the lives and welfare of millions of women at risk.

CMA has long-standing policy supporting access to reproductive services. Personal medical decisions – including those around abortion – should be made by patients in consultation with their health care providers.

This draft opinion, if it becomes final, would undermine decades of progress in women’s health care. It is a direct attack on the practice of medicine and patient reproductive health outcomes.

California must continue to do all it can to depoliticize individual health care decisions and protect reproductive freedom for all.”