CHAPTER 1 EXERCISES:

ORIENTATION: ABORTION IN PERSPECTIVE

EXERCISE 1: Feelings about providing abortions

1. As you embark on this experience, consider whether and how you might disclose this training to others. Are there parallels between the stigma that patients and providers experience?

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2. As you embark on this experience, consider the different backgrounds and identities of patients, yourself, and your trainer(s). Are there practices that can equalize power differentials and have information and feedback flow in both directions?

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EXERCISE 2: Practice environment

1. Reflect on some pros/cons to receiving abortion services in a primary care setting compared to a specialty setting.

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2. How would a one-week delay impact a person’s care in your setting? Consider impacts of mandatory waiting periods, or changes to legislation in your area.

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EXERCISE 3: General feelings about pregnancy options

^{Adapted from The Abortion Option: A Values Clarification Guide for Health Care Professionals. (NAF 2005)}

We all carry personal beliefs that can influence our interactions with people for whom we are providing healthcare, even when striving for objectivity. Values exploration exercises help identify and reflect on these biases to ensure they don’t interfere with person-centered care. Research shows that engaging in these exercises improves knowledge, attitudes, and approaches to abortion care (Turner 2018). Some reflections may bring up strong emotions, so take time to process them. Consider how your experiences shape your views on abortion, adoption, and parenting, and where you may feel challenged in supporting a person’s decision.

EXERCISE 3.1

1. In general, how do you feel about someone choosing abortion, adoption, or parenting in each of these situations? Are you challenged to accept a person’s decision in the following circumstances? How have your life experiences contributed to these feelings?

For a full set of values exploration questions, see A Values Clarification Guide for Health Care Professionals (NAF 2005)

• • If the pregnancy threatens their physical health or life
  • If the pregnancy involves a fetal abnormality (minor vs. incompatible with life)
  • If they have an active substance use disorder
  • If they are in a surrogacy contract
  • If you, as the provider, are pregnant

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EXERCISE 3.2: Your feelings about gestational duration and abortion

1. At what gestational duration, if any, do you start feeling uncomfortable about a person choosing to have an abortion?

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2. Does it matter if you are making a referral vs. performing an abortion? Or the reason for the abortion? If so, why?

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EXERCISE 3.3: Your feelings about patients’ reasons or situation

1. How would you feel about referring or providing an abortion for a person who:

1. 1. is ambivalent about the pregnancy but whose partner wants them to terminate?
   2. wishes to obtain an abortion because they are carrying a female fetus?
   3. has had several previous abortions?
   4. indicates that they do not want any birth control method to use in the future?
   5. conceived using assisted reproductive technology but changed their mind?
   6. is in a surrogacy contract and decided to end it?
   7. tried unsuccessfully to end their pregnancy on their own before seeing you?

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2. How might you handle your discomfort when caring for people under these circumstances?

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EXERCISE 4: Dreaming reproductive justice into practice

1. Reflect on the concept of reproductive justice. What would a health care system look like if it fully centered reproductive justice? Provide specific examples.

2. How is the community integrated in your clinical practice? How do you learn from and with the community?

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