Contraception and abortion

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 20

Contraception and abortion

Sir, — It is made clear on pages 184 and 190 of the report of the Royal Commission on contraception, sterilisation and abortion that life begins at conception. The Family Planning Association seems to have misread the report when they say that the commission said that life begins at implantation; the com mission stated that pregnancy begins at implantation.

Further confusion on the subject of the commission report follows; it is beyond the scope of this letter to deal with it all. I can only suggest that members of the Family Planning Association read Chapters 14 and 24 of the report thoroughly. — Yours, etc. G. E. DALZIEL. May 23, 1977.

Sir, — It is time that medical and para-medical people stopped using woolly thinking and euphemistic speech. The Family Planning Association appears to define “menstrual regulation” as “extraction of the contents of the uterus by suction, after implantation,” (“The Press,” May 23). “Menstrual regulation” is best defined as “the regulation of the changes occurring in the menstrual cycle.” The association’s definition is a verbose way of saying abortion. Another example of this kind of thing is well-illustrated by a sad mother who had miscarried her baby. She was told by a member of the hospital staff that she should not be so upset; after all she had not lost a baby, only a pregnancy. — Yours, etc., ERICA M. JORDAN. May 23, 1977.