Patron of abortion group

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 6

Patron of abortion group

Lady Scott, the wife of Sir Ronald Scott, is to become patron of the Christchurch Branch of the Abortion Law Reform Association. Lady Scott has had a long-standing interest in women's issues, including abortion. It was important that women became involved in issues that affect them only, ■ she said. “The phrase ‘the quality of life' has been used a lot! by politicians. They have; applied it to the environ-' ment, aged people, even the; animal world, but it really! begins with pregnancy. The fact that it is a wanted one or an unwanted one makes a! life-time of difference," she; said.

“A woman can happily look forward to the birth of her child, being aware of and committed to the wonderful but awesome responsibility that comes with it. With an unwanted pregnancy a woman could view the future with terror, being condemned to commit life for which she is afraid to be responsible. It is not good enough to hope that everything will turn out right. “Mental institutions are already filled with emotional cripples.” Lady Scott said “abortion on demand” was another ■phrase that was bandied about a lot. “Who ever invented that lone? What does it mean? I Does it mean that if the law lis liberalised we women are | all likely to rush out and get ourselves in to the ap-l propriate condition to demand our rights?” “Does it mean that if the law is liberalised a line must be drawn somewhere? Who will be qualified to judge where the line should be and who will be qualified to receive an abortion?” Lady Scott said a woman should be free from the pressure of the law and be given a second chance to consider whether she wanted and could cope with the commitment to bring another child into the world. I “If she had the slightest; doubt she should be able to! opt out before it was tool late for her, the new life, and society. “Happily, even criminals' are given a second chance to lead a better life."