‘No problems’ in abortion system

Press, 7 April 1978, Page 4

‘No problems’ in abortion system

Christchurch women seeking abortions under the new Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act seem in a slightly better position than women in other parts of New Zealand.

The new act has been tn force for almost a week, and indications are that it is working comparatively smoothly in Christchurch, with a minimum of confusion amongst certifying consultants.

Queationed yesterday, tome certifying consultants were reluctant to say how manageable they found the act. because they had not had a chance to test it. Others said they were having no difficulty interpreting the act, or putting it into practice. One of the main reasons for the comparative simplicity of the process in Christchurch is that six of the doctors performing terminations are also certifying consultants. Under the act, a woman is certified as suitable for a termination bv two consultants. neither of whom has to be the doctor who will carry out the opereuon If this was the case a third doctor must be found to do the termination, and this doctor would have the nght to refuse the termination if he felt this would be unsuitable for the patient. A woman in this position would have already seen four doctors, including her own general practitioner, and might face further consultations if she were to pursue her attempts to procure a termination under New Zealand law.

According to two of the Christchurch consultants, this situation had not yet arisen because most women were seeing, as one of their consultants, an operating doctor attached to the Christchurch Women’s Hospital, the only hospital in the city licensed for abortions.

This has also side-stepped the confusion which the Press Association reported had arisen earlier this week in Wellington, where several consultants were unsure how they could direct the patient to an operating doctor. Under the act, the consultants must be satisfied that a doctor is available to earnout the termination.

Some Wellington doctors also said they had not received guidelines from the Abortion Supervisory Committee about procedure. Most Christchurch consultants seem to have got these, but one complained yesterday that he had not yet been sent the forms for certification of! termination or sterilisation. He said some of his col-' leagues were also without these form> Mr D. H. Bashford, a certifying consultant but not an operating doctor, said Christchurch seemed to be one of the 'uckier centres. 'The system seems to be' working well now.” he said He agreed a problem could arise, however, where a woman had to see an operating doctor who was not one of her certifying consultants ! But he said that in the interests of Christchurch women, it was fair at least to try to make the act work as smoothlv as possible. Mr A. H. Foate. both a consultant and an operating doctor. said he had not noticed any increase in referrals or requests for terminations this week Neither did he know of anv woman who had been refused a termination at Christchurch, Women’s Hospital this week. He said the fact that six ofthe operating doctors were also consultants, and so were actually “wearing two hats.” was an asset to the system in Christchurch. A colleague. Mr K. Drav-i ton. said he had alreadv had cases referred to him. He believed that his instructions were fairly clear, and that he knew how to handle any inquiries. Another consultant, who did not wish to be quoted, said that no women seeking an abortion had been referred to him yet, but he would have' no problem following the new act.

The medical supenntenden of the Christchurch Women': Hospital (Mr G. I. Louisson) who is both an operating doc tor and a consultant, said th< act was working “reasonabh well.” He said there was a tot a of nine doctors attached t< the hospital who would bi doing terminations. Three o I these, members of the hos pital’s academic staff, wen mot certifying consultants. The consensus amongs local consultants indicatet none would be prepared t< certificate a woman unless the' had seen her personally However, personal con sultation is not requirec under the act. and consult ants have no rights tc demand personal assessment In spite of the favourable reports about the intial work ability of the act. women an

.(Still leaving Christchurch for 'abortions at Sydney clinics. An organiser for Sisters Overseas Service in Christ- : church, Ms Elizabeth Sewell, said an average of 15 to 20 women a week were going to Sydney for abortions. There had been a slight rise in women seeking help from the service this week, but there was no way of saying whether this was because the act was now in force, she said. Ms Sewell said S.O.S. had had one referral from a certifying consultant. She said S.O.S. still followed the procedure of explaining the process for getting a termination under New Zealand law. and then letting the pregnant women decide for themselves i whether they wanted to try this or go to Sydney.