197307
Family Planning
POSITION STATEMENT
Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 1973
Approved by the Assembly of District Branches, November 1973
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"Policy documents are approved by the APA Assembly and Board of Trustees… These are …position statements that define APA official policy on specific subjects…" -- APA Operations Manual. |
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This statement was prepared by the Task Force on Family Planning and Population.1
INDlVIDUAL CHOICE as to whether and when to become a parent and the prevention of unwanted pregnancy or birth is an important way to promote and safeguard the health and welfare of individuals, families, and communities. Birth control, including contraception, medically safe abortion, and voluntary sterilization should therefore be available universally to every individual on request to prevent unwanted pregnancy or parenthood as a part of standard health care and medical services.
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1The task force included: Eugene B. Brody, M.D., chairman, Robert Cancro, M.D., Stephen Fleck, M.D., and E. James Lieberman, M.D.; Henry P. David, Ph.D., Cornelia Friedman, M.D., Zigmond M. Lebensohn, M.D., Warren Miller, M.D., Lucile Newman, Ph.D., and M.D. Shelesnyak, Ph.D., consultants; Richard Barthel, M.D., Falk Fellow; John Cawte, M.D., and James Fawcett, Ph.D., corresponding consultants; and Lane Ameen, M.D., liaison with the Council on Emerging Issues.