United States Supreme Court Renders Decision in Dobbs Vs. Jackson
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Jun 27, 2022
This past Friday, the US Supreme Court rendered a much-anticipated decision in the matter of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned 50 years of court precedent and constitutional abortion rights set forth in 1973 in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
In a bitterly split decision, the Supreme Court ruled that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to abortion and returned the matter to states to determine the legality within each jurisdiction. I fully recognize and appreciate the diversity of opinion regarding this controversial decision. However, as a physician, I worry that this ruling unduly infringes upon the relationship between patient and physician. It also threatens patient autonomy and the ability to secure reproductive health services.
Following the decision, Governor Cathy Hochul assured all New Yorkers – and members of our campus communities, in particular – that their ability to access safe, legal reproductive healthcare services in New York state is not impacted by this ruling. In addition, Interim SUNY Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley supports the Governor’s commitment that reproductive health services provided at SUNY healthcare centers, including SUNY Downstate and SUNY hospitals, will not change. Gov. Hochul also recently announced a multi-platform public education and other programs to extend abortion and reproductive services to the women of New York and others from outside of New York.
If you are an employee having difficulty and would like additional support resources, contact the Employee Assistance Program at (718) 270-1489 or email Magda Alliancin, Ed.D. at magda.alliancin@downstate.edu. All calls and emails are kept confidential.
Students having difficulty who would like additional support may contact the Office of Student Affairs at (718) 270-2187 or by email at studentaffairs@downstate.edu. The Student Counseling Center is also available for confidential support and can be reached by email at counseling@downstate.edu.
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Contact: Dawn S. Walker
917.439.9666 | 347.533.2071
dawn.walker@downstate.edu
About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is the borough's only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care. It is a 342-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of New York City and Brooklyn's 2.6 million residents. University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) is Downstate's teaching hospital, backed by an outstanding medical school's expertise and world-class academic center research facilities. More than 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties—many of them ranked as tops in their fields—comprise Downstate's staff.
In addition to high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis (kidney diseases)—and offering the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn, among many other distinctive programs—Downstate also sponsors a major learning center for young children with developmental disorders and disabilities. In addition to UHB, Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu or follow us on Twitter at @sunydownstate.