ILLEGAL OPERATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22365, 15 June 1936, Page 1

ILLEGAL OPERATIONS

TO THIS EDITOK. Sir, —The duty of a doctor in regard to cases of illegal abortion lias been very much to the fore of late owing to a coroner’s remarks thereon. The coroner said that it was not the duty of a doctor to act the part of a detective and then w,ent on to lay down a course of action which would make the doctor something ver nearly approaching such a law officer. No one would suggest that any doctor should break the law, but there is one very important aspect of the matter which is in danger of being overlooked. If, as suggested in certain quarters, the doctors arc to act the part of vigilance officers in these canes. it is certain that there will be more than a likelihood that cases urgently needing the services of a doctor will not get that indispensibio help because the risk will be considered too great. There will be a tendency to “ lake a chance ” with the patient, rather than with the doctor who. if the coroner’s advice _ is followed, will bo a sort of unofficial police officer. There are many who will say that the death of the patient in such circumstances will he just punishment, but l am writing tin's from a humanitarian point of view, not from a religious one. It is the duty of society to frame laws which conserve life, and not those which tend to increase the risk o c death. The legal offence should give —ay to the purely human life-saving one. No law or rule in the medical profession should tend to drive away, or keep from seeking medical aid, people, whatever their purely legal offence, who arc urgently in need of a doctor’s services. If the doctor is to be a vigilance officer of a semi-police character, then often those immediately concerned in such cases will prefer to lot the patient take a chance rather than put their own head in ibo law’s mouth.

There is another aspect which well might be stressed. I refer to the fact

that there is a considerable body of opinion inside the medical profession which favours the removal of the present laws against abortion! The World League for Sexual Reform, which comprises the foremost sexologists and many leading medical men, has advocated the removal of the laws against abortion and it is certain that a more rational age will do away with them. In the meantime, pending more enlightened laws, we should not try to enforce medical rules which will keep necessitous cases away from the doctor who can save the life in danger. I am, etc., Advance, Juno Id.