We are dedicated to improving medical teaching and training for abortion care. We want to develop and establish advanced training methods during medical school, apprenticeships and residency.
The following offers already exist:
In cooperation with Medical Students for Choice Berlin and other student-run groups such as the Kritische Mediziner*innen [Critical Physicians] we take part in “Papaya Workshops” as medical experts.
Papaya Workshops provide medical students a basic knowledge of abortion through theoretical and practical learning. They were first organized in Germany in 2015 by Medical Students for Choice Berlin and are now popular at other German medical faculties, too. During the workshops, different abortion methods are presented, including their implementation, possible side effects and contraindications. Participants will be able to familiarize themselves with the procedures of surgical abortion by practicing vacuum aspiration on a papaya. The goal of the workshop is not to enable the participants to master the procedure themselves, but rather to provide an introduction to the topic and to let them gain confidence in the contact and counselling of patients who want an abortion.
Due to its shape, size and texture, the papaya serves as a suitable and inexpensive model of the uterus. Papaya Workshops are internationally known and scientifically recognized.
Sources:
- Steinauer J, Preskill F, Devaskar S, Landy U, Darney P. The papaya workshop: using the papaya to teach intrauterine gynecologic procedures. MedEdPORTAL 2013; 9: 9388.
- Paul, M. & Nobel, K. Papaya: a simulation model for training in uterine aspiration. Fam Med 37, 242-244 (2005).
In August 2020, we inaugurated our training academy. There are currently four online training courses on abortion available (in German).
Ärzt*innen pro choice Berlin, a subgroup of Doctors for Choice Germany, has developed a guideline for medication abortion for independent physicians to make it easier for general practitioners to offer medication abortion care in their practice.
Medication abortion is a safe and effective abortion method and is approved in Germany up to the 9th week of pregnancy p.m.. While in some other European countries around 60 – 80% of all abortions are medication abortions, in Germany only 45% of abortions are completed using medication. This guideline aims to improve abortion care and the patients’ freedom of choice.
The guide is currently only available in German. For more information please refer to the German version of this page.
There are regular (online) training courses on abortion. These are usually open to all interested doctors and health care professionals. In some cases, separate training courses are also held specifically for GPs, gynaecologists or MFAs (medical assistants) who are interested in offering medication abortion in their practice.
All (upcoming) training courses are always published on our website under “Events”.