Resolutely pro-life.(Making A Difference)

Many medical entities, such as the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have caved in on the crucial issue of abortion. They have largely abandoned the physicians' original Hippocratic Oath that pledged "I will not give to a woman an instrument to produce abortion."

Not so the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), which was founded in 1943 as a nonpartisan professional association of physicians from all medical practices and specialties. The AAPS continues to espouse a solidly pro-life position. For instance, the third plank of its principles of medical ethics asserts that the physician "should not condone the taking of human life in the practice of his profession, but at all times respect the sanctity of human life and seek to preserve or improve the quality of life."

During its 60th annual meeting from September 17-19, the AAPS reiterated its stance with a hard-hitting resolution captioned "Affirming the Sanctity of Human Life." For the record, it is reproduced here in its entirety:

 
   WHEREAS: the Association of 
   American Physicians and Surgeons 
   stands on the principles of the Hippocratic 
   Oath, which oath clearly opposes 
   abortion of a developing human 
   child; 
 
   WHEREAS: teachings of the 
   major religions of the world have opposed 
   ...