Criminal Abortion

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 115, 10 February 1944, Page 4

Criminal Abortion

Sir. —Saturday morning’s “Dominion reported a statement by Dr. Gilberd, medical superintendent, of Auckland Hospital, which in my opinion takes the proverbial bun, To quote: “Before the recent ruling, criminal abortions were notified, and the police and I felt that if abortionists used infected instruments they should not be allowed to continue ami that our women should be protected against that sort of thing.” The implication is that if abortionists used surgically sterile instruments neither the police nor Dr. Gilberd would object. The criterion of morality in this matter' is then the standard of the aseptic technique used, This sounds ridiculous, but it is an actual fact that a large section of the medical community think along these lilies, and could give an inquirer no other good reason why abortion should not be performed. What else could one expect from these .unfortunate men who have been brought up under the inspiraof the well-known Education Act of 1877, which does not attempt to answer in the school curriculum the query placed before every citizen sooner or later: “What is your attitude to abortion?”—l am, etc., F. ADAMS. Lower Hutt, February 7.