The medical community deals with many controversial subjects, and abortion is just one of them.
Because of its contentious nature, neuroscience and psychology senior Tess Andrews said that professors approach the subject delicately while most of her classes avoid the matter altogether.
“I took a biology and psychology of human sexuality class and I thought that that would kind of talk about it, but we didn't really talk about abortion,” Andrews said. “We talked sometimes about forced birth control or if kids are forced to have any type of genital reconstruction, but we never really got on the topic of abortion, surprisingly.”
Andrews said that she understands that it’s a controversial topic, especially in the current political climate. Still, she thinks it does have a place in the classroom, especially when a class like the one she took was already covering other controversial topics.
“The professor brought up that his mom chose not to have an abortion and could have,” Andrews said. “So, he was very upfront and honest, but the curriculum itself could have definitely had it inserted. It made sense, and it could make sense in a lot of classes, ... that class showed me that even if it is an uncomfortable topic for people, it still has to be taught.”
Human biology junior Becca Bienstock said she has only talked about abortion in her pre-med classes a small number of times, in a class similar to the one Andrews took.
“I took (a class) last spring before everything with Roe v. Wade happened,” Bienstock said. “In that class we talked about topics like abortion and euthanasia and stuff like that … but it really hasn't been a topic of conversation in any of my classes since it's been overturned.”
Bienstock said she knows opinions are much stronger and people are more passionate since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but she isn’t sure if the university is holding professors back from talking about it, or if the classes simply don't use it in their material.
“Technically in Michigan, it's still legal to practice abortion, safe medical abortion,” Bienstock said. “So, I think that like just following the state guidelines and the state rules and (teaching) those is probably important.”
Neuroscience senior Hadi Atoui has never talked about abortion in any of his classes, and he thinks it's better this way. He said that it is a topic that everyone is shy to speak about and that none of his professors have ever mentioned it.
“No one should give their opinions on it,” Atoui said. “I feel like it's a good idea to, maybe if people would want to learn about it, (give them) an option … Maybe they can opt into a class where they talk about abortion or all these rights ... but I think it's better if it's not mentioned in the classroom because it can create controversy between students and professors.”
Atoui said that for most pre-med students, the classes are focused on students’ majors, not the type of medicine they want to practice. Once they apply to medical school, then topics can become more specialized.
Similarly, Andrews said there is a large range of classes that students take, and most of the time they aren’t discussing specifics of medical procedures. They do, however, discuss healthcare as a whole and how it affects patients, as well as how to have meaningful interactions with patients.
“I think when it comes to abortion, that a big part of it is (patients are) treated very differently based on their choice,” Andrews said. “Doctors have to not only know how to give an abortion, but also when it's necessary and how to talk about and discuss the options."
It would be beneficial, Andrews said, to start discussing the general mechanics of the topic, rather than the specfics of the procedure.
This November, Michigan voters will see Proposal 3, the Right to Reproductive Freedom, on the ballot. The proposal would amend the state constitution to include that, “An individual’s right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened, nor infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means."
Bienstock said that if the proposal passes, she thinks abortion might be talked about more in the classroom.
“Professors might be walking on eggshells because it's such a sensitive topic right now,” Bienstock said. “So, maybe (the proposal passing) would help increase the conversation on the topic.”
Andrews said it would be a lot harder to have conversations about abortion in class if it became illegal in Michigan.
“I think it would just be really detrimental,” Andrews said. “Not even just like, 'Abortion is illegal,' but to our learning because when the choice is available, you can discuss both sides. But, when it's not allowed … I feel like that really restricts a lot of topics.”
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Andrews said that since abortion rights are now being decided at a state level, she and her friends who are are pre-med must consider how their future learning might be impacted. Which state they end up in for medical school or residency may impact how they can practice medicine.
Overall, however, Andrews said she is just glad that she is able to have discussions about abortion outside of the classroom with other students who are keeping up with the news.
“I do think that a lot of people have discussed it personally, and like, I'm glad that my friends are educated and aware of the news so we can talk about it even if we don't talk about it in class,” Andrews said.
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