We are a German network of physicians, medical students and other health professionals.
Motivation
At Doctors for Choice Germany, we believe that everyone should have an autonomous choice in all areas of sexuality, reproduction and family planning. We think this is an essential step for reaching equality and a fair and comprehensive health care system. As Doctors for Choice Germany we are health-oriented, evidence-based and feminist. We reject any discrimination based on gender and sexuality. In our work, we rely on our broad experience in abortion care and knowledge of reproductive health, the reports of our patients, results of high-quality studies and the recommendations and demands of national and international organizations like the World Health Organization.
Our History
Doctors for Choice Germany was founded in 2019 by Dr. Alicia Baier and Leonie Kühn.
Background
There are many physicians who dedicated their life to work and improve reproductive health and justice in Germany. However, they were missing a platform to connect and share their work and experiences. Doctors for Choice Germany was founded in order to fill this space. This was urgently needed, considering the increasing gap in abortion care and the German abortion law which criminalized doctors providing such abortion care.
We would like to contribute to the sociopolitical and public debate about abortion with scientific, evidence-based and health-oriented facts. The improvement of medical education and training as well as the access to abortion care is a core element of our work.
The Committee
The current committee includes physicians Dr. med. Alicia Baier (chairwoman), Leonie Kühn (deputy chairwoman), Dr. Christiane Tennhardt, Dr. med Jana Maeffert as well as the medical student Paula Kurz (treasurer). They all have many years of experience in fighting for implementing and improving abortion teaching in medical faculties.
The Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee provides expertise and advice to the Committee. Currently, it consists of three members: Julia von Kanitz since 2019 (organizational developer and coach), Nora Szász (gynecologist) and Kristina Hänel (general practitioner) since 2022.
Members
Our members are experienced gynecologists and general practitioners, physicians of other disciplines, residents, med students or other health professionals who have been committed to improving abortion care. Many of our doctors have been providing abortions for many years.
Doctors
Med Students
Other
In the world we seek to promote, all people would have the right to…
- express their sexuality, as long as it is consensual and third parties are not disturbed in the process;
a state-funded contraception and sex education, beginning in school;
decide if and how many children they want and to receive adequate government support if they decide to become parents;
have access to abortion care in the event of an (unwanted) pregnancy;
factual and evidence-based information on reproductive health topics, such as contraceptives and abortion care, regardless of the provider;
protection from false information about abortion and from attacks by anti-abortion activists;
local access to counselling and medical treatment; and
reproductive health care that is covered by health insurance.