Abortion service
Sir,—Your correspondent, K. Orr, makes the arrogant claim that the “pro-life” vigil participants “support the truth that all human life is precious and should- be respected and protected.” In practice they show no respect whatever for adult, fully-mature human beings. It is bad enough to have doctors harassed; it will be intolerable if women already in distress are harassed likewise. Have they not a speck of Christian compassion? — Yours, etc., ELSIE LOCKE. June 30, 1985.
Sir,—The front page of today’s “Press” (June 27), highlights the peculiarities of our world. In a photo, Mrs Irene Martin is shown surrounded by toys made for auctioning at the “Give that they may grow” Telethon ’B5. Next to it an
article telling of the difficulties in obtaining medical staff for the Lyndhurst Hospital, accompanied by the comment from Dr Jocelyn Hay, “If we cannot find staff for the hospital, what is the fate of the patients with possibly unwanted children in the future?” No doubt some will say the two subjects are unrelated. I think the irony of it holds a lesson for us all.—Yours, pte M. WELLS June 27, 1985. . Sir,—Most abortions are done for non-medical socio-economic reasons and are strictly illegal according to the intentions of the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act of 1977. Abortion is abhorrent to most doctors, having been described by the late Sir William Liley as “contrary to the grand strategy of medicine.” Doctors who are convinced of the rightness of abortion should not be deterred by protesters standing at their door. The Canterbury Hospital Board cannot claim that it is merely responsible for “providing a service.” The decision to convert a maternity hospital into an abortion clinic was incongruous and insensitive. Little wonder that people gather nearby in protest, — Yours, etc J. F. GWYNNE. June 30, 1985.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850702.2.121.5
Bibliographic details
Press, 2 July 1985, Page 20
Word Count
302Abortion service Press, 2 July 1985, Page 20
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.