ISSUES • ABORTION When is a life, a life? Scientific research clearly defines that the beginning of life is at conception. Immediately after conception each cell has sufficient information in its DNA structure to produce a complete human being. Destruction at any stage of the development of a person, from the single cell stage up to several million cells, is the taking of a life. The use of the terminology ‘right to choose’ is a perversion of the truth because it exploits the language of rights as a pretext for taking away the most basic right of all: the right to life. As a result, those who are the most drastically affected, namely the victims, are the ones who are denied the ‘right to choose’. It is unethical and an abuse of power to destroy those who cannot defend themselves. It is therefore not surprising that the largest survey ever done amongst South African doctors on this subject showed that more than 80% of them are against abortion on demand. It has been shown that those who have had abortions may, and most probably will suffer physical, mental and/or spiritual harm. Not only is there the risk of death, hemorrhaging and permanent damage to vital reproductive organs, but it is estimated that close to all women will suffer with guilt, shame and remorse. Twenty five percent may experience “post abortion syndrome”, a serious condition involving chronic depression that if left untreated can lead to attempts at suicide. DFL is committed to upholding the rights of all healthcare professionals to freedom of conscience as enshrined in the South African Constitution, so as to not have to participate in the practice of performing abortions.
MEDIA RELEASE
Embargo: Immediate Release
Date: 12 November 2009
Enquiries: Dr Eva Seobi
Tel: 082 575 6278
CRISIS AS HEALTH CARE WORKERS REFUSE TO DO ABORTIONS
According to the latest Annual Report by the Western Cape Department of Health, the unwillingness of staff to perform abortions has resulted in unmanageable increases at facilities where staff are prepared to perform the procedure. Prior to the legalisation of abortion-on-demand, Doctors For Life International warned that this would happen. Health care professionals are fully aware that abortion ends the life a human being and many will therefore not participate in abortion-on-demand.
Health department head Prof Craig Househam said while the trend was worrying, it was also complex because the department could not compel staff to perform the procedure. All health care workers have a constitutional right to refuse to participate in the abortion procedure. According to him it’s even more worrying that younger staff are unwilling to perform abortions, as this could result in major problems when the older staff retired or left.
The provincial Department of Health has since raised concerns, saying that some institutions were increasingly becoming deserted due to staff refusing to perform abortions.
In a survey conducted by the South Africa Medical Journal in 1996, 82.49% of doctors said that they would refuse to perform abortion-on-demand. Of doctors in full-time government service, 94,69% said that they would refuse to perform the procedure. In another survey conducted in the Western Cape only 31.5% of doctors said that they would be prepared to do abortion-on-demand.
Sound medical science is clear that the life of a human being starts at fertilisation, when the reproductive cells of the male and female merge. The foetus’ heart begins to beat between 18 and 24 days after fertilization and brain waves can already be detected at six weeks after conception. Due to the development of the nervous system, a foetus is likely to feel pain as early as 8 weeks after conception. Doctors and nurses are acutely aware of these facts and will consequently always feel that it is morally and ethically wrong to do an abortion-on-demand.
Doctors For Life International therefore calls on the government to review the law on abortion, taking cognisance of the reality that the life of a human being starts at fertilization. No amount of political manoeuvring or efforts of governments will change these scientific facts.
Doctors for Life International, represents more than 1600 medical doctors and specialists. For more information visit www.dfl.org.za
GIRL’S CASE AGAINST ABORTION CLINIC SETTLED OUT OF COURT
Doctors For Life International (DFL) is pleased that Crystal Osler’s case for compensation against the abortion clinic, has finally come to an end. DFL assisted Crystal and her parents to sue an abortion clinic for their failure to inform Crystal of the mental health consequences associated with 20 to 40% abortions. The parties have agreed to settle the case out of court.
Crystal has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after she had an abortion at 28 weeks of pregnancy in Durban. The clinic failed to inform her of the possibility that she may develop PTSD after the abortion.
Research shows that between 65% of women that have had abortions suffer from one or more symptoms of PTSD. In another study, 19% of post-abortive women met all the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. PTSD in post-abortive women is characterised by nightmares, fatigue, irritability, nervousness, forgetfulness, suicidal ideation, sexual dysfunction and/or social withdraw.
Any person undergoing an invasive medical procedure (such as abortion) must be informed of all the likely complications, including mental health consequences. Failure to do so places the healthcare professionals involved at risk of being sued for damages.
Doctors for Life International, represents more than 1600 medical doctors and specialists. For more information visit www.dfl.org.za
Backstreet abortion rife Because of abortion-on-demand!
Backstreet abortion continues to flourish despite the fact that the practice of abortion-on-demand was legalised 12 years ago. Based on statistics from other countries where abortion-on-demand was legalised, DFL warned the government at the time the law was passed, that legalising abortion-on-demand would NOT reduce the incidence of illegal abortions, and that it would have the opposite effect instead – namely, that of increasing illegal abortion.
Legalising abortion-on-demand also caused the practice of abortion to be legitimised, and now backstreet abortion seems to have been integrated into the proverbial woodwork of legalised abortion practice. DFL is inundated by reports of illegal abortion practices in both rural and urban areas.eThekwiniMunicipality recently arrested several bogus doctors involved in performing illegal abortions. One such “bogus doctor” was found with R1 million in his bank account, indicating how lucrative the practice of illegal abortions in South Africa can be. DFL commends and supports the eThekwiniMunicipality’s efforts to curb backstreet abortion.
Contrary to the beliefs of some activist groups, backstreet abortion is not fuelled by the large percentage of healthcare professionals refusing to participate in the practice of abortion. On the contrary, the availability of abortion is proved by the fact that more than 80 000 legal abortions are performed annually in South Africa.
Separating legal from illegal abortion has become difficult, especially because of the widespread availability of Misoprostol (also known as Cytotec). Misoprostol is the primary drug used for abortion in South Africa and is used to induce the birth of the unborn baby, who then dies due his/her prematurity. Misoprostol is widely used in government abortion facilities and seems to be dished out like “Smarties” by backstreet abortionists.
DFL shares the Health Professions Council’s concerns regarding the increasing number of people faking their qualifications, and the "flood of advertisements" by bogus doctors claiming to be experts in abortion. Backstreet abortion is clearly rife and happening more than ever before, and legalised abortion-on-demand has not curbed its incidence.
Doctors for Life International, represents more than 1600 medical doctors and specialists. For more information visit www.dfl.org.za
SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS LINKED TO GOVERNMENT ABORTION POLICY
Doctors For Life International (DFL) commends the commitment of the newly appointed South African Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to address the current financial and human resources management problems of the health care system. However, the government would do well to take note of the fact that many of the most devoted, well qualified and competent staff are under pressure to either quit the public healthcare system or continue to be pressurized to participate in abortion-on-demand.
DFL continuously receives calls from doctors and nurses from state hospitals, complaining of threats, intimidation and unfair discrimination when they opt to exercise their right not to participate in abortion-on-demand. Some healthcare professionals have been dismissed, threatened with disciplinary action and even imprisonment for refusing to participate in abortion-on-demand.
The current situation in hospitals demands of healthcare personnel to have “split personalities”. Initially they have an equal duty of care towards both the mother and unborn baby, who are both considered patients. We regularly see the foetal heartbeat on sonar scans from the 4th week of pregnancy. Then, suddenly, at the request of one patient, they are expected to become cold blooded and ruthlessly snuff out the life of the other patient.
DFLonce again appeals to the government to remove the practice of abortion from state hospitals, so as to not alienate dedicated healthcare professionals, who are opposed to abortionon the basis of conscience and who are continuously facing a conflict of interests. The removal of the practice of abortion from state hospitals, would enable doctors and nurses to return to a healthcare system which has a desperate shortage of healthcare professionals.
Doctors For Life International is an association of more than 1600 specialists and medical doctors. DFL endeavours to promote public health by upholding sound science in the medical profession, as well as the constitutional right to freedom of conscience for all healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit www.dfl.org.za
When is a life, a life? Scientific research clearly defines that the beginning of life is at conception. Immediately after conception each cell has sufficient information in its DNA structure to produce a complete human being. Destruction at any stage of the development of a person, from the single cell stage up to several million cells, is the taking of a life. The use of the terminology ‘right to choose’ is a perversion of the truth because it exploits the language of rights as a pretext for taking away the most basic right of all: the right to life. As a result, those who are the most drastically affected, namely the victims, are the ones who are denied the ‘right to choose’. It is unethical and an abuse of power to destroy those who cannot defend themselves. It is therefore not surprising that the largest survey ever done amongst South African doctors on this subject showed that more than 80% of them are against abortion on demand. It has been shown that those who have had abortions may, and most probably will suffer physical, mental and/or spiritual harm. Not only is there the risk of death, hemorrhaging and permanent damage to vital reproductive organs, but it is estimated that close to all women will suffer with guilt, shame and remorse. Twenty five percent may experience “post abortion syndrome”, a serious condition involving chronic depression that if left untreated can lead to attempts at suicide. DFL is committed to upholding the rights of all healthcare professionals to freedom of conscience as enshrined in the South African Constitution, so as to not have to participate in the practice of performing abortions.