Sterility figures disputed

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34106, 19 March 1976, Page 14

Sterility figures disputed

An account bv a Christchurch doctor that 5 to 10 per cent of women would be sterile after induced abortion, omitted the vital fact that the statistics referred to operations conducted legally by medical practitioners, according to another doctor. Dr J. R. E. Dobson.

I Dr Dobson was referring to an article in “The Press” which quoted Mr Keith Drayton. a gynaecologist and president of the Christchurch Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child. Mr Dravton had quoted Professor H. McLaren of England who said that a “5 per cent sterility rate following abortion seems on the low side.’’ Mr Drayton had also been reported last year as saying that the incidence of sterility which followed abortions had been stated as 5 per cent, and supplied an article by Pantelakis written in 1973, to Dr Dobson. Dr Dobson said that Mr Drayton had not supplied him with references to studies carried out by Professor McLaren, and that the Pantekalis study (from Athens) referred to illegal abortions. Dr Dobson also disputed that Mr Drayton’s views on sterility had been supported by the Royal Commission on abortion which sat in Christchurch recently. Dr Dobson said that the person Mr Drayton claims supported his view had not made any mention of sterility.