Abortion topic sparks pro-life response

Photo: File.

To deny humanity of an unborn child is appalling. That's the opinion of pro-life advocates who are applauding the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for not providing a surgical abortion service in Tauranga.

Right to Life spokesman Ken Orr says pregnancy is not a disease, and abortions should not be used as a form of health care for women.

The conversation comes after The Weekend Sun published a story on November 23 discussing whether there is a need for surgical abortion services in Tauranga.

'We take no pleasure in seeing women inconvenienced,” says Ken. 'However, because we see abortion as a violation of the human rights of the child, we support the DHB refusing to provide a killing service.”

He says nobody has the right to kill another human being because their continued living is an inconvenience.

'The unborn child is a patient that should be respected and protected,” he says. 'Women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy, that is imposing a burden on the mother, deserve all the help and support from the community they need to choose life for their child.”

Ken says Right to Life holds the same view on medical abortions as surgical abortions. As such, in 2015, Right to Life sought a judicial review of the decision of the Abortion Supervisory Committee to grant a limited licence to the Family Planning Association for its Tauranga clinic.

'Our case was that the license issued was unlawful because it unlawfully stipulated that the license was to allow medical abortions up to nine weeks,” says Ken.

'This law required that the license be for up to 12 weeks and include surgical abortions. Justice Williams, in the High Court in Wellington, agreed with us but allowed the license to be corrected and to stand.”

Voice for Life Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust acting-president Don Brebner, who has led a group of volunteers to pray outside Tauranga Hospital in a peaceful vigil for several years, also agrees that women should choose life for their baby.

However, he says it's up to the BOPDHB to decide what is needed for the community.

'It's a decision for the health board,” says Don. 'In my view, it would be nice not to have any abortions, but if it's got to be done - something simple and within the nine week period - then medical abortion is probably the safest.”

He says the need for surgical abortion services also isn't as high as people may believe, and that in most cases it isn't a women's choice.

'More research, centred on women who have had an abortion, is being published every year,” says Don.

'It indicates that up to 60 per cent say years later they have been coerced into it, often with threats by, for example, a boyfriend, partner, husband or parents; or by someone who has power over them.”

He admits most of this research has been collected from America, but believes there are New Zealand women out there going through similar circumstances.

'I believe it's more than likely happening in New Zealand for the same reasons, with the main point being coercion by the boyfriend - particularly if it's a serious relationship and the boy insists that there be an abortion or he'll cut the girl off.”

No research has been carried out about coercion in New Zealand, but post-abortion pregnancy counsellors have reported anecdotal evidence.

Women are told throughout their pregnancy that it's not ok to be pressured into making a decision about continuing the pregnancy, keeping the baby, giving it up or having an abortion.

During one of the two surgical abortion consultations, they will also be asked to go in by themselves. The consultant will then ask them various questions about their health and safety.

In Family Planning's booklet ‘Abortions: What you need to know', it also acknowledges how difficult an unplanned pregnancy can be for men.

'Men may feel strongly about the woman and her pregnancy and feel they have a right to be informed or involved,” says Family Planning.

'Legally they don't have any rights to make decisions about continuing or terminating the pregnancy.

'Deciding to seek an abortion is the woman's choice. A man shouldn't pressure the woman to do something she does not want to do, whether that is to continue the pregnancy or to have an abortion.

'Men who are named as the father of a baby are legally and financially responsible for that child, until the child reaches his or her 19th birthday. If the man is under 18 years of age, the financial responsibility falls on his parents.”

Although these systems may be in place, Don says they still run on an honesty basis.

'Regarding the 40 per cent, who do not claim to have been coerced, the main question in New Zealand, ever since 1974 and the Child Support Act, would surround the honesty of the whole system,” he says.

'I don't expect - in my lifetime anyway - to get an abortion free New Zealand. I think that would be too hopeful, but it's an idealist goal.”

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