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"". termination more than 22 weeks not recommended except under exceptional circumstances agreed by the woman and two authorised professionals.""-This is nonsense!
Lawyers say abortion proposals show capacity for evil
BY ERICA VIRTUE Sunday Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, February 22, 2009
THE Coalition of Lawyers for the Defence of the Unborn last week denounced Jamaica as a country which places little premium on life and shot down proposals made in favour of decriminalising abortion.
David C Henry, one of five lawyers to make presentations on behalf of the pro-life legal group, in reacting to the proposal of fine and/or imprisonment for doctors who refuse to carry out abortions, said it "...teaches a salutary lesson as to our capacity for evil, if we are not guided by principles of respect for life..."
Henry, who was addressing the Joint Select Committee considering abortion last Thursday, was immediately forced to clarify the 'capacity for evil' comment. But even after his explanation, committee member Andre Franklyn was not convinced they had not been labelled as evil.
Henry added that: "The proposal to bring sanction of law by way of fine and or imprisonment in the circumstances where one conscientiously objects to that which for many Jamaicans on moral grounds is indefensible, and which is presently illegal, is revolting to the extreme..."
According to the attorney, the provisions propose a draconian about-turn in our laws, and, as submitted, would also create grave internal legal inconsistencies. The island's Constitution, he said, protects the right to life.
Meanwhile, the objectionable provisions cited by the coalition were contained in the sections repealing the existing Offences Against the Persons Act to replace it with the Termination of Pregnancy Act. Their major quarrel was with the conditions under which termination of pregnancy can be lawful, including:
. pregnancies up to 12 weeks gestation... can be performed in registered facilities by an authorised medical practitioner in consultation with the woman;
. pregnancies more than 12 weeks gestation to be performed under supervision of an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in a hospital; and
. termination more than 22 weeks not recommended except under exceptional circumstances agreed by the woman and two authorised professionals.
It was the belief of the group that the recommendations effectively provide for abortion on demand up to 22 weeks and over, subject to the agreement of two doctors.
Also, citing data from two hospitals, Henry said the argument of high maternal morbidity due to unsafe abortions was not supported.
The group has called for the Child Development Agency to encourage more Jamaicans to foster children; public education to nullify some of the deep-rooted prejudices, such as hair type and skin colour, against children to be adopted; private agencies to become involved in the business of adoption (providing background investigations); maternity leave for adoptive parents; and special areas where women may leave children they do not want.
Lawyers say abortion proposals show capacity for evil
BY ERICA VIRTUE Sunday Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, February 22, 2009
THE Coalition of Lawyers for the Defence of the Unborn last week denounced Jamaica as a country which places little premium on life and shot down proposals made in favour of decriminalising abortion.
David C Henry, one of five lawyers to make presentations on behalf of the pro-life legal group, in reacting to the proposal of fine and/or imprisonment for doctors who refuse to carry out abortions, said it "...teaches a salutary lesson as to our capacity for evil, if we are not guided by principles of respect for life..."
Henry, who was addressing the Joint Select Committee considering abortion last Thursday, was immediately forced to clarify the 'capacity for evil' comment. But even after his explanation, committee member Andre Franklyn was not convinced they had not been labelled as evil.
Henry added that: "The proposal to bring sanction of law by way of fine and or imprisonment in the circumstances where one conscientiously objects to that which for many Jamaicans on moral grounds is indefensible, and which is presently illegal, is revolting to the extreme..."
According to the attorney, the provisions propose a draconian about-turn in our laws, and, as submitted, would also create grave internal legal inconsistencies. The island's Constitution, he said, protects the right to life.
Meanwhile, the objectionable provisions cited by the coalition were contained in the sections repealing the existing Offences Against the Persons Act to replace it with the Termination of Pregnancy Act. Their major quarrel was with the conditions under which termination of pregnancy can be lawful, including:
. pregnancies up to 12 weeks gestation... can be performed in registered facilities by an authorised medical practitioner in consultation with the woman;
. pregnancies more than 12 weeks gestation to be performed under supervision of an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in a hospital; and
. termination more than 22 weeks not recommended except under exceptional circumstances agreed by the woman and two authorised professionals.
It was the belief of the group that the recommendations effectively provide for abortion on demand up to 22 weeks and over, subject to the agreement of two doctors.
Also, citing data from two hospitals, Henry said the argument of high maternal morbidity due to unsafe abortions was not supported.
The group has called for the Child Development Agency to encourage more Jamaicans to foster children; public education to nullify some of the deep-rooted prejudices, such as hair type and skin colour, against children to be adopted; private agencies to become involved in the business of adoption (providing background investigations); maternity leave for adoptive parents; and special areas where women may leave children they do not want.