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Robert C. Belding, MD
Beckley, WVa

JAMA. 1993;269(17):2209.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—The Commentary entitled "The Myth of the Abortion Trauma Syndrome"¹ is misleading. A recent review of the literature, while acknowledging methodological problems in many previous studies, indicates findings of "marked, severe or persistent [psychological or psychiatric disturbances]... in approximately 10% of women."² This is very poor support for the author's assertion that these women's problems are a myth.

To my knowledge, no one has investigated the extent of the occurrence of grief in the fathers of aborted babies. Apparently, Dr Stotland does not recognize its possible existence. However, obstetricians are increasingly aware of grief at the loss of a baby, once the pregnancy is accepted,³ and, certainly, terrible grief has been felt by fathers after involuntary abortion. Does this suffering warrant no concern at all on the part of health care providers? . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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