Christopher Tietze

Biographical Information
"Christopher Tietze, MD, and Sarah Lewit Tietze, leading authorities on the demographic and public health aspects of human fertility and its regulation, were the first to compare detailed estimates of the mortality risks of contraception, abortion, and childbearing. The1973 U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide, was based in part on the results of their research.  Émigrés from Vienna and Russia, respectively, Dr. and Mrs. Tietze married and collaborated on many projects while working for the Population Council.  Dr. Tietze was involved with the major national reproductive health and rights groups, and served on seven World Health Organization scientific groups concerned with human reproduction.  They authored or coauthored 250 scientific papers, more than 100 of which were on abortion.  Dr. Tietze’s greatest legacy was the introduction of rational, scientific means for assessing contraceptive safety and efficacy and identifying the effects of abortion policy on maternal health."


 * Winner (1973), Margaret Sanger Award