Abortiontrend rising

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 1

Abortiontrend rising

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The number of supervised abortions rose to 8056 in 1986, an increase of 13 per cent on the 7130 in 1985, according to the annual report oftheAbortion Supervisory Committee, tsblea 1* In 1982 there had been 6903 abortions performed in licensed institutions, 7198 in 1983, and 7275 in 1984. Institutions at which there had been significant increases were Dunedin Hospital (122), the Auckland Medical Aid Centre (165), and Epsom Day Hospital (551). Southland Hospital abortions were up from 18 to 84. The sharpest decline was at Timaru Hospital, down from 36 to one. The committee said it was aware of the polarity in attitudes to abortion. To a significant number, the rights of the unborn took precedence; to a similarly significant number those rights were subservient to the woman’s rights. There was no country where people were unanimous about a solution to the problems caused by an unwanted pregnancy.

The majority of New Zealanders respected one another’s differing views on a very wide range of issues, of which abortion was only one, the committee said. ,There should be little .need mlttee’s report showed no discernible shift in the ages at which women were having abortions. But the number having one authorised on the grounds of “serious danger to mental health*’ rose from 6901 in 1985 to 7839 in 1986. The number having one authorised on the grounds of “substantial risk of abnormal child” has fallen from 69 in 1983 to 36 in 1986. An Opposition spokesman, Mr Graeme Lee (Hauraki), described 8046 as far too high. He considered the committee was showing an unacceptable intention to increase the’ ranks of certifying consultants by adding all general practitioners. Mr Lee accused the Government of delaying the report’s tabling in Parliament until after the General Election, for “political purposes.”