American Life League circulated a statement (3/00) concerning this position to a select number of doctors around the country. Already, nearly 100 physicians have signed the statement—including former abortionists Bernard Nathanson and Beverly McMillan—and it is anticipated that hundreds more will sign.

The statement reads, "I agree that there is never a situation in the law or in the ethical practice of medicine where a preborn [unborn] child's life need be intentionally destroyed by procured abortion for the purpose of saving the life of the mother. A physician must do everything possible to save the lives of both of his patients, mother and child. He must never intend the death of either."

"This statement contradicts the popular political thinking that such an exception is needed. It reflects the ethical thinking and practice of many physicians, and is based on empirical data provided by physicians over the past thirty years," said American Life League president Judie Brown.

"The 'life of the mother' exception has become standard fare for politicians and legislative proposals claiming the pro-life label. This is why ALL began the campaign with physicians and we are continuing this campaign by, today, challenging every major presidential candidate to face the facts and denounce the life of the mother exception.

There is never a reason in law or in practice to advocate a "life of the mother" exception for abortion. We base this statement on testimony of many pro-life physicians over the years, including John F. Hillabrand, M.D., Herbert Ratner, M.D., and Bernard N. Nathanson, M.D.

Further, we adhere to the following teaching of Pope Pius XII:

 

Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral "indication" that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life—which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.

Allocution to Italian midwives
Pope Pius XII
October 29, 1951

This declaration was created by the public policy department of American Life League, Inc. It was circulated to members of the medical and scientific communities for review and endorsement. The physicians listed below have all signed statements of  agreement with the declaration. Their signed statements are on file at American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555

I agree that there is never a situation in the law or in the ethical practice of medicine where a preborn child's life need be intentionally destroyed by procured abortion for the purpose of saving the life of the mother. A physician must do everything possible to save the lives of both of his patients, mother and child. He must never intend the death of either.

1. John Damiani, O.D., Michigan
2. Eugene F. Diamond, M.D., Illinois
3. Brian W. Donnelly, M.D., Pennsylvania
4. Judith L. Jacobus, M.D., Pennsylvania
5. Edwin W. Liebner, M.D., Illinois
6. Thomas E. Meads, M.D., Virginia
7. Gloria J. Zibilich, M.D., Pennsylvania
8. Karen D. Poehailos, M.D., Virginia
9. Charles P. Prezzia, M.D., Pennsylvania
10. Patrick Pullicino, M.D., New York
11. Alden Kielhorn, M.D., Nebraska
12. Bernard Nathanson, M.D., New York
13. Paul A. Byrne, M.D., Ohio
14. Patrick Mongan, M.D., Georgia
15. Patrick J. Scarpitti, M.D., Ohio
16. David E. Born, M.D., Ohio
17. Caroline Parris, M.D., Massachusetts
18. Michael P. Kennedy, M.D., Louisiana
19. William C. McCarthy, M.D., Virginia
20. Samuel A. Nigro, M.D., Ohio
21. Michael G. White, M.D., Wisconsin
22. Patrick Guinan, M.D., Illinois
23. Robert J. Saxier, M.D., Florida
24. Paul R. Bruch, M.D., Connecticut
25. Beverly A. McMillan, M.D., Mississippi
26. Felino V. Barnes, M.D., Ohio
27. Raymond J. Voulo, M.D., New York
28. S. DuBose Ravenel, M.D., North Carolina
29. John J. Brennan, M.D., Wisconsin
30. Gregory White, M.D, Illinois
31. Peter J. Murphy, M.D., Nebraska
32. Laurel DeStefano, M.D., Indiana
33. William J. Burke, M.D., Missouri
34. Albert S. Callie, M.D., Arizona
35. R. Daniel Cevasco, Jr., M.D., Ohio
36. Peter Danis, M.D., Missouri
37. Michael G. Skoch, M.D., Nebraska
38. John R. Hartman, M.D., Florida
39. Michael G. Molitor, M.D., Georgia
40. Patricia A. Poindexter, M.D., California
41. Glenn A. Ridder, M.D., South Dakota
42. Ellen L. Curro, M.D., Maryland
43. William Sears, M.D., California
44. Theodore F. O'Donnell, M.D., Washington
45. Ronald Ferris, M.D., Kansas
46. Gregory M. Hoffpauir, M.D., Louisiana
47. George Delgado, M.D., California
48. Thomas K. Nelson, M.D., Arizona
49. William D. Parker, M.D., Louisiana
50. William L. Toffler, M.D., Oregon
51. Michael K. Houser, M.D., Missouri
52. Alean Zeiler, M.D., Ohio
53. Charlie Joslin, M.D., Kansas
54. Tom Malinich, M.D., Illinois
55. John F. Gisla, M.D., California
56. Peter C. Szekely, M.D., Montana
57. Timothy McNicoll, M.D., California
58. Matthew M. Glick, D.O., Oklahoma
59. Fred deMiranda, M.D., Arkansas
60. Arthur J. Stehly, M.D., California
61. Nicholas P. Murphy, M.D., Florida
62. Dale L. Osterling, M.D., Florida
63. Joan T. Littell, M.D., Florida
64. Norman Ruiz-Castaneda, M.D., Florida
65. Leslie A. Chorun, M.D., Kansas
66. Robert Jaminet, D.O., Kentucky
67. Christopher L. Lee, M.D., Louisiana
68. Anthony M. Kam, M.D., Michigan
69. John A. Joyce, M.D., Michigan
70. David Hargroder, M.D., Missouri
71. Michael Artigues, M.D., Mississippi
72. Thomas L. Bodensteiner, M.D., Nebraska
73. John H. Detar, M.D., Nevada
74. John R. Thompson, III, M.D., New York
75. Stephen A. Spaulding, M.D., New York
76. Robert Desmond, M.D., Ohio
77. Pedro Solanet, M.D., Pennsylvania
78. James G. Linn, M.D., Wisconsin
79. Jay E. Carpenter, M.D., Florida
80. Michael V. Rock, M.D., Arizona
81. William G. White, M.D., Illinois
82. Paul L. Llayes, M.D., Nebraska
83. P.D. McNeely, M.D., Nebraska
84. Timothy Fischer, M.D., Nebraska
85. Jerrold G. Black, M.D., Nebraska
86. Lorna Cvetkovich, M.D., Nebraska
87. David G. McCann, M.D., Georgia
88. Jim Statt, M.D., Arizona
89. Judy Burns, M.D., California
90. Douglas S. Brew, M.D., Minnesota
91. George Maloof, M.D., California
92. George E. Jay, M.D., Minnesota
93. William L. Martin, M.D., Arizona
94. Mark R. Druffner, M.D., Wisconsin
95. Konald A. Prem, M.D., Minnesota
96. George F. Dietz, M.D., Illinois
97. Paul A. Carpenter, M.D., Massachusetts
98. Jerome T. Y. Shen, M.D., Missouri
99. Austin T. Welsh, M.D., Arkansas
100. Edmund F. Ziegler, M.D., Connecticut
101. John S. Burnham, M.D., Ohio
102. Lauren A. Welch, M.D., Kansas
103. Gerard S. Brungardt, M.D., Kansas
104. Kathleen Dixon, M.D., Missouri
105. Mark J. Rollo, M.D., Massachusetts
106. George Isajiw, M.D., Pennsylvania
107. David R. Harnisch, M.D., Nebraska
108. Stephen M. Donahue, M.D., Texas
109. Kristen Marie Haight, M.D., New York
110. Mary C. Conry, M.D., Iowa
111. Kenneth T. Conry, M.D., Iowa
112. James F. Murphy, Jr., D.O., Nebraska
113. Michael Gilmore, M.D., California
114. Erik C. Rivers, M.D., Minnesota
115. Robert Deucher, M.D., North Carolina
116. Stephen Burns, M.D., Texas