Abortion Archives - Page 41 of 51 - Protection of Conscience Project Library

(Correspondence) Iatrogenic pregnancy

Michael J Ball

Canadian Medical Association Journal, CMAJ — Canadian Medical Association Journal

Extract
On a number of occasions in the past year I have referred patients for therapeutic abortion where pregnancy had occurred following temporary discontinuation of oral contraceptives on medical advice. . . Last year the Medical Handbook of the International Planned Parenthood Federation was distributed widely to Canadian physicians by the Department of National Health and Welfare. In this authoritative source it is stated: “The earlier views, that oral contraceptives should not be used for more than two (later changed to four) years without a break are no longer tenable.”

Ball MJ. (Correspondence) Iatrogenic pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J. 1972;107(8):727. Available from:

Attempted abortion by the use of bishyrdoxycoumarin (case report)

NST De Jager, NF Boyd, AD Ginsburg

Extract
The use of an oral anticoagulant in an attempt to induce abortion has not previously been reported. . . Her knowledge of its effects stemmed from two episodes of heavy vaginal bleeding which had been ascribed to the drug. It is felt that in this way she sought to rid herself of a pregnancy which she believed would disrupt her life. In common with almost all patients who knowingly ingest anticoagulants illicitly, she persistently denied self-medication. With adequate psychiatric and social service assistance the underlying problems were resolved and the pregnancy was concluded successfully with the birth of a live infant…

Jager ND, Boyd NF, Ginsburg AD. Attempted abortion by the use of bishydoxycoumarin. Can Med Assoc J. 1972 Jul 8;107(1):50, 53-54.

Outpatient management of first trimester therapeutic abortions with and without tubal ligation

JA Collins, HH Allen, AA Yuzpe

Abstract
In busy hospitals the increasing numbers of abortions must be performed without disturbing other hospital functions. Local anesthesia, vaginal tubal ligation and the use of outpatient beds are the operative and administrative adaptations described. Of 1545 abortions performed in Victoria Hospital, London, in 1971, 428 (32%) were done under local anesthesia; 14 of these patients also had vaginal tubal ligation under local anesthesia. There were 405 sterilizations (26.2%) among this group of patients, of which 390 (96.3%) were vaginal tubal ligations. Of the total number, 891 (57.7%) were dealt with as outpatients and these comprised 62.0% of patients having therapeutic abortion only, and 46.7% of patients having tubal sterilization as well as abortion.

Collins JA, Allen H, Yuzpe A. Outpatient management of first trimester therapeutic abortions with and without tubal ligation. Can Med Assoc J. 1972 May 20;106():1077-1080.

(Editorial) Issues of Conscience

Thelma M Schorr

Extract
The reality of the situation is that since 1966, with the liberalization of abortion laws in a number of states, the number of abortion patients has been steadily increasing. This means that an increasing number of patients will seek care that most nurses have not been educated to render. . . . There are many nurses who see an abortion as an unconscionable act, and certainly they should never be placed in the position of having to nurse patients who have chosen to have their pregnancy terminated. Just as a patient’s freedom to choose must be respected, so must a nurse’s. But it is also that nurse’s responsibility to protect both the patient’s freedom and her own by refusing to work in a situation which she finds morally offensive.

Schorr TM. (Editorial) Issues of Conscience. Am J Nurs. 1972 Jan;72(1):61.

(Correspondence) Therapeutic abortion and ultrasound

KE Hodge

Extract
Widespread and authoritative reports on this subject have been published and there is no evidence to indicate that ultrasound administered in the doses that are employed medically has any adverse effect on mother or fetus at any stage of gestation..

Hodge K. (Correspondence) Therapeutic abortion and ultrasound. Can Med Assoc J. 1971 Nov 20;105(10):1021.

(Correspondence) The “morning-after pill”

Michael J Ball

Extract
A course of post-coital estrogens, in adequate dosage, is a highly effective and safe (though misnamed) form of post-coital contraception that deserves to be more widely known and prescribed. Both unwanted pregnancies and the demand for abortion could be reduced by its widespread use in emergency situations.

Ball MJ. (Correspondence) The “morning-after pill”. Can Med Assoc J. 1971;105(3):240.

(Correspondence) Obstetric Appointments and the Abortion Act

Conor J Carr

British Medical Journal, BMJ — British Medical Journal

Extract
I am afraid, therefore, that the potential trainee with a conscientious objection to abortion must face the fact that even if he is fortunate enough to obtain trainee posts in units where his conscience can be respected, he will still have to face the fact at the end of his training, that if he does not obtain a post in a large teaching unit, he is likely to have to face the choice of either leaving the specialty or the country.

Carr CJ. (Correspondence) Obstetric Appointments and the Abortion Act. Br Med J. 1971 Jul 31;3(5769):305.

(Correspondence) Working of the Abortion Act

E Allan, Phyllis Taylor, Kirsten Walker, MS Fisher, John Nixon, GR Spencer

Extract
It is reported that over 90,000 pregnancies in Britain are now terminated annually and this must place a considerable extra burden on the already overstretched resources of the N.H.S., resulting in even longer delays for those women needing other forms of gynaecological surgery. Some young hospital doctors and nurses who wish to gain experience in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology are discouraged from doing so by the pressures which would inevitably be put upon them to assist at, or perform, abortions.

Allan E, Taylor P, Walker K, Fisher M, Nixon J, Spencer G. (Correspondence) Working of the Abortion Act. Br Med J. 1971;305.

Impact on hospital practice of liberalizing abortions and female sterilizations

A David Clayman, John R Wakeford, John MM Turner,Brian Hayden

Abstract
The number of therapeutic abortions performed at the Vancouver General Hospital in 1969 was double the average number for the previous four years and in 1970 the total reached 1465. The more liberal attitude towards abortion has resulted in a decided reduction in the number of children available for adoption in the community. This policy has required a streamlining of the duties of the Therapeutic Abortion Committee and an alteration in the pattern of bed and operating-room utilization. By far the greatest number of abortions were performed on psychiatric-social grounds. The complication rate of 17% was influenced chiefly by the advanced duration of the gestation in a high proportion of cases. Gynecologists and hospitals must be prepared to assume their altered role in providing abortion and sterilization in today’s society.

Clayman AD, Wakeford JR, Turner JMM, Hayden B. Impact on hospital practice of liberalizing abortions and female sterilizations. Can Med Assoc J. 1971 Jul 10;105(1):35-41, 83.

(Correspondence) Obstetric Appointments and the Abortion Act

JA Stallworthy

Extract
. . . man’s right to live and work according to the dictates of conscience is an asset precious to him and medicine itself. Because of their religious conviction two senior members of this division of obstetrics and gynaecology do not perform abortions. . . If when they leave . . . they can be replaced by men or women of equal calibre Oxford will be fortunate. The integrity, experience, skill, and potential of applicants for these posts will be more important than their willingness to terminate pregnancy.

Stallworthy J. (Correspondence) Obstetric Appointments and the Abortion Act. Br Med J. 1971 Jul 10 3(5766):108.