AMP Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

Approved by AMP's Board of Directors on August 12, 2022                                   

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) is deeply concerned with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and the negative impact it will impose on physician practice and patient access to needed healthcare services. AMP has had a long-standing position against government overreach into the practice of medicine. In addition, AMP sees a direct correlation between the Supreme Court’s ruling, the state laws triggered by it, and certain federal actions and proposals to impose drastic restrictions on laboratory developed testing procedures (LDPs).

We stand firmly with our colleagues who provide healthcare for pregnant individuals. Any statute that criminalizes the practice of evidence-based medical care is an imposition by government that threatens the health and life of patients and has implications far beyond reproductive health services. New state laws have brought chaos and confusion into healthcare settings and hindered necessary medical procedures, including those for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

AMP is further concerned with how negative impacts of the Supreme Court’s ruling will exacerbate health care inequity. In early 2022, AMP’s Board of Directors revised our Core Principles to explicitly state AMP’s values regarding equitable patient access to high quality testing and thereby helping to promote healthcare equity.

Regarding our annual meetings, AMP has for a number of years vetted locations for potential civil issues that could impact our attendees. The Supreme Court ruling gives us an additional factor. While it is impossible to extricate AMP from current contracts, AMP will not consider locations for its future annual meetings with laws that violate AMP’s revised Core Principles.

As effects from the Supreme Court ruling evolve, AMP will continue to assess the impact on our members and the patients they serve. AMP remains dedicated to its mission to advance excellence in molecular and genomic laboratory medicine, including advocating for equitable access to evidence-based medical care.