Doctors call for abortion repeal

Press, 9 March 1978, Page 1

Doctors call for abortion repeal

PA Greymouth The New Zealand Medical Association’s council yesterday decided to support moves to abolish the abortion law, but stopped short of putting its weight behind the Repeal movement. The council adopted a motion to support moves to repeal the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act by 93 votes to 80. But the chairman of the association’s executi’-e (Dr G. Gordon) said that the association was not supporting Repeal. “We do not support a pressure group,” he said. “We want the legislation repealed and substituted with the council’s recommendation.” Mr Gbrdon criticised the Government for announcing the fees to be paid to abortion certifying consultants before the council had had a chance to consider them. The fee was not discussed at the council’s conference because it has already been approved bv the Minister of Justice (Mr Thomson).

Dr Gordon said it was a great pitv that Mr Thomson had felt the announcement could not wait until the council had met. The fees were set at S2o

where a woman seeking an abortion was interviewed personally *>y a certified consultant, and $lO in all other assessment cases. “The fees are really quite incidental. They are pretty middle-of-the-road and will not change doctors’ minds about becoming certified consultants.” D) Gordon said. “We have no idea of the workload and no guidelines because no other country has ever passed legislation like this.” Dr Gordon said it was important that the fees be open to negotiation. “We cannot do anything but accept it now, but the association hopes that once it is in practice, it will, if necessary, be able to discuss increasing or decreasing the fees.” The council adopted a motion that in any press release made by the association on the abortion legislation it should be stated that the council’s firm conviction was that the problem of interpreting the act rested with faults in the legislation. The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) urged doctors to “give the new abortion laws a go.” He told the council that he was neither for nor against abortion but his views were known to his colleagues and constituents.

“We have, however, entered into a phase where personal views are not relevant,” he said. “We have a law to administer and from what I read in the press we are having the greatest difficulty in some areas in attracting the number of consultants we need.” The Minister said the .responsibility for appointing certifying consultants lay with the supervisor’ committee as defined bv law.

“Nobody can be debarred or prohibited from applying and I would be grateful if your members would consider the desirability of allowing this act to be tried.” He said it had been suggested that only obstetricians or gynaecologists who delivered 50 babies ' year could apply to be consultants. “This may not be the law. The law specifically says, ‘a practising obstetrician or gynaecologist’ and does not specify any numbers,” Mr Gordon said. “In these matters our medical profession ’•egulates itself and doctors who are trained, who have the experience, who have the competence, practise obstetrics.” Some might only attend five or 10 deliveries a year but they were still recognised as practising obstetricians. "The Health Department recognises and pays them as such. “They are paid maternity benefits and they should consider the interests of their patients and possibly the patients of their colleagues,” the Minister said.