Docs say Trump ignores birth control science

WASHINGTON » The Trump administration’s new birth control rule is raising questions among some women’s health experts, who say it overlooks known benefits of contraception while selectively citing data that raise doubts about effectiveness and safety.

“This rule is listing things that are not scientifically validated, and in some cases things that are wrong, to try to justify a decision that is not in the best interests of women and society,” said Dr. Hal Lawrence, CEO of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which represents women’s health specialists.

Two recently issued rules — one addressing religious objections and the other, moral objections — allow more employers to opt out of covering birth control as a free preventive benefit for women under the Obama health care law. Although the regulations ultimately concern matters of conscience and religious teaching, they also dive into medical research and scholarly studies on birth control.