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Department of Health simply ignoring real abortion issues

Thursday, 29 October 2009

The Department of Health is under scrutiny at the High Court in Belfast for the appalling guidelines on the Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland which it issued in the summer - conveniently when our Assembly was on recess and most of us were on holiday.

Over the last three years, the department has had input on the detrimental effects of abortion on women's lives from many different organisations, both voluntary and professional.

They have been given extensive research, which is freely available, on the long term psychological, physical and emotional effects of abortion - not only on women, but men, families and society as a whole. They have chosen to ignore it and brush it aside.

They have heard personal testimonies of women who have chosen abortion and had 'safe and legal' abortions.

An evidence hearing of the Health Committee at the Assembly last October was given approximately 2,000 sworn, legal affidavits of women who had experience of abortion. These affidavits gave evidence to the detrimental effects of abortion on their lives and these women were from wide and varied backgrounds.

The department has received all this information not once, but three times, both in face-to-face meetings and in report form.

They have chosen to ignore it all.

Health Trusts in Northern Ireland are not equipped to deal with post-abortion trauma, yet the Department of Health has silenced the voice of those volunteer and professional organisations currently helping women for more than 20 years.

Ask yourself this: why?

LYNN COLES (MRS)

Choose Life After-Abortion Recovery Ministry, Belfast

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Yet again the obsession with Christianity continues. If people don't like it then stop mentioning it. I am a Christian myself and I am sick to dead of reading negative comments about my religion and having to defend it. If you don't like abortion then that is fine. If you do think people should have the right to have an abortion then fine. People have their own right to do what they want to do. You can please all of the people all of the time so why bother? Let people make their own decisons and live their own lives. I am aiming this at everyone aruging about what they think is right and wrong about abortion. It has nothing to do with religion and if I look down the page I see that a person called WH brought religion into this by calling it nonsense. Well that might be your opinion but keep it to yourself please. Just as much as you would tell me to keep my religious opinions to myself. Have some respect.

Posted by Jonny | 31.10.09, 22:10 GMT

At 5 weeks: The tiny heart begins to beat by day twenty-one. The brain has developed into 5 areas and some cranial nerves are visible. Arm and leg buds are visible and the formation of the eyes, lips, and nose has begun. The spinal cord grows faster than the rest of the body giving a tail like appearance which disappears as the embryo continues to grow.

At this stage most women are figuring out they are pregnant.

Abortion stops a beating heart. Abortion is not a right.

Posted by Colin | 31.10.09, 19:00 GMT

A very good letter with which I totally agree

Posted by Mrs S Wilson | 31.10.09, 17:34 GMT

If Sean can make assertions without real evidence, so can I.

God doesn't exist. We have only one life. I plan to make the most of it. I will push for my rights. Your unprovable fantasies will not stop me from doing so.

And WH, yes, you can use the word happy. Some are ecstatic, even. Relieved beyond belief. In less usual circumstances, some women can regret it. I'm not one of them.

"Long term health affects"? You, sir, are a liar.

Posted by Twilight | 31.10.09, 00:44 GMT

Sean

Abortion is illegal in NI in all but extreme circumstances, so I'm not quite sure what your point is. Shame on Westminster and the NI Assembly for disposing of NI women's rights so cheaply (to score political points and pander to the 'religious').

Posted by Tigger | 30.10.09, 13:09 GMT

What about the choice of the baby to live? Life is a gift form God as we were created for a purpose. To you really think that life is such a random event and that we are accountable to no one? Our bodies belong to God and are not our own to abuse as we wish. The Bible is God's Word and it teaches us that we were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Our life is not our own and we are told that children are a blessing from God (Psalms 127:3). The Bible says "I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly." (Psalm 22:10) Babies are God's servants from the womb and no one has the right to kill God's little servants.

Posted by Sean | 30.10.09, 10:36 GMT

Please Lynn,

What do you take us for?

Presumably all 'scientific evidence' is giving equal weighting in your organisation?

You have already lost the argument, you have just not realised it yet.

A little like a headless chicken.

Posted by MS | 29.10.09, 20:21 GMT

You know, all autonomous, responsible adults have to make tough choices at times. It's part of life as a grown-up. My heart breaks for a woman who does genuinely regret her abortion, but does that mean she should not have been allowed to make that choice for herself? No: no it does not. I will fight tooth and nail, without cease, to make sure that the tough decisions that will be a part of my life are mine and mine alone.

That said? I don't regret my abortion for one second. 15 years later, I'm still grateful every day.

Posted by Ann | 29.10.09, 17:06 GMT

What about the 10,000s of women who are happy, if I can use that word, that they had an abortion? It is very easy to find people who may regret having an abortion, get them on camera, get them to sign a bit of paper, they cry a bit, and bob's your uncle, abortion is a terrible thing. That, however, is not everyone's view on this difficult subject. I am sure that abortion has had a positive effect of some people's lives as well.

"Ask yourself this: why?" - Abortion should not be used as a form of contraception, that's for sure. However, women should have the right to choose whether or not they want to have the baby that they are carrying. In other words, a woman should not be forced to give birth to a child against her will.

Lynn, you will lose this fight. Reason, common sense and good science are on the side of pro-choice. Anti-abortion groups tend to rely upon poor science, religious doctrine (nonsense) and pressure groups. Pick a different fight, please.

Posted by WH | 29.10.09, 12:41 GMT

Ask yourself this: why?

Maybe because it should still be up to the woman herself and people like you should mind their own business?

Posted by M A | 29.10.09, 12:24 GMT

This is absolutely appalling! Abortion has long term health effects (physically and mentally) for many women as well as taking an innocent life... Dogs and cats have more rights then the unborn child. Shame on this nation for disposing of life so cheaply.

Posted by Sean | 29.10.09, 11:31 GMT

Of course there are emotional and physical effects of abortion and I commend you in your effort to help those in need. Ultimately it is up to the individual to decide on what action they should take and should not be bullied by the radical fundamentalists on both sides of the abortion arguement.

Posted by Bemused | 29.10.09, 08:40 GMT