Protection of Conscience Project Library
Service, not Servitude
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It is fast becoming evident that no man or woman whose conscience prevents them from engaging in this practice can in future contemplate specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology, and this would apply to many practising Christians, not merely Roman Catholics, and presumably to orthodox Jews.
Theobald G. (Points from Letters) Abortion (Amendment) Bill. Br Med J. 1975;2(5971):620.
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Did you choose deliberately to disregard the fact that in every case of proposed abortion two patients are involved, the mother and the child? The whole tenor of your article, backed up with suitable quotations from the Lane Report, seems to favour abortion on demand.
Slorach C. (Points from Letters) Abortion (Amendment) Bill. Br Med J. 1975 Jun 14;2(5971):620.
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Most people who have chosen their ranks will probably remain loyal despite any argumentational artillery. So the war goes on!. . . There are conscientious and responsible people on both sides of the issue and their detailed arguments can be read elsewhere. I am not for abortion, but for preconceptive family planning. If the laws are liberalized there will be abuses; we are imperfect creatures. But because we are human and individuals with personally significant problems requiring solutions, we should be permitted to be treated as individual humans.
Schneider G. (Correspondence) Therapeutic abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1975 May 03;112(9):1045.
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I regret that my previous letter (Can Med Assoc J 111: 900, 1974) did not make clear the distinction between people whose individual value system would not allow them to participate in abortion themselves and people who would prevent anyone from participating in abortion. I sincerely hope we never have laws that prevent the former from following the dictates of their own conscience . . . he is entitled to call embryos anything he wishes. But those of us who call tadpoles “tadpoles” and not immature frogs, acorns “acorns” and not oak trees, prefer to call fetuses “fetuses”. . . With regard to Dr. Baunemann’s letter, the persistent attempt on the part of the self-styled pro-life people to force an association between the Nazis and the advocates of abortion Jaw repeal is wearing a bit thin. . . .History shows that antiabortion laws (phenomenologically, compulsory pregnancy laws) were always introduced to stimulate population growth; and such policies of demographic aggression usually preceded acts of other kinds of aggression. Hitler was a fervent crusader for compulsory pregnancy.
Watters WW. (Correspondence) Therapeutic abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1975 Mar 08;112(5):558.
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The CMA is not in favour of “abortion on demand”; indeed we are very concerned with the very large and growing number of abortions being performed. . .Our primary aim is to improve family planning programs and, in every way possible, reduce unwanted pregnancies and the need for abortion. . . We believe there is a great need to clarify government policy regarding the abortion laws and for much more meaningful leadership from the federal and provincial governments and the medical profession of Canada to evolve an effective, comprehensive national family planning program. . . .Contrary to a frequent misinterpretation that the CMA is pro-abortion, the association, in fact, is much more strongly pro-prevention of the problem of unwanted pregnancy. If the news media had publicized that important portion of my presentation to the Empire Club regarding the need for effective educational and family planning programs as widely as it did that part related to the problems of abortion, you would have gained a much more accurate view of the policies of the association.
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Stephenson B. Abortion: an open letter (CMA President). Can Med Assoc J. 1975;112(4):492. Available from:
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. . . A common error made by physicians is that they assume a responsibility that is not theirs. When a healthy woman becomes pregnant it is her responsibility and it is certainly not the duty of the physician to terminate the pregnancy. . . . .
. . . If it is a depression one has to treat the depression, not the pregnancy. We are using the wrong diagnosis to escape from a difficult decision. To justify an abortion one must be sure that health will be permanently damaged, as in a patient with chronic nephritis or one at risk of heart failure. . . .
. . . .The lack of guiding principles has created a very disturbing situation. A most disturbing thought is that those who are unwanted can be disposed of. This happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany and it happens in all totalitarian states. . . .Throughout history, people were first dehumanized, not regarded as people, then used or killed. . .
. . . Physicians’ attention must be focused on preventing the occurrence of those situations in which abortion may be justifiable. . . The Oath of Hippocrates should serve as a means of drawing the members of the medical profession together irrespective of religious or philosophical differences. As it is now, we are the passive onlookers of a debate between fanatically rigid groups.
Kok C. (Correspondence) Unwanted pregnancy and abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1975 Feb 22;112(4):419-420.
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The country that liberalizes abortion creates an atmosphere that encourages abortion. . . Is abortion really no different than any other operation? The people who see no difference are the same people who see all the difference in the world between feticide and infanticide. . . .Dr. Watters refers derisively to the “pro-life” group as the “Canadian Crusaders for Compulsory Pregnancy. . . Is it so difficult to understand that in certain circumstances principles come before expedients? . . . Killing has always been one of the most tempting ways for man to achieve his immediate ends. The numerous complications that may result from abortion, especially the long-term ones, provide good medical reasons for encouraging a pregnancy to continue.
Coffey PG. (Correspondence) Therapeutic abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1975 Feb 08;112(3):283.
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The history of the Nazi era reminds us of the tendency in man to abuse and enslave his brothers. . . Canadian doctors have performed approximately 150 000 abortions. They are acting freely and voluntarily. I do not believe that their actions can be defended by moral men. It is true that there are good men among them, men who are motivated by the highest ideals, but as a social group I view them as mass killers.
Baunemann H. (Correspondence) Therapeutic abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1975;112(1):27.
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While the CMA has recommended the removal of the requirement for hospital therapeutic abortion committees from the Criminal Code, it has supported the retention of the balance of sections 251 and 252. The purpose of this stand is to retain the more serious implications of a violation of the Criminal Code as compared with a violation of provincial medical acts regarding the performance of abortions by non-qualified persons or by qualified physicians outside approved hospitals. This policy also reflects the association’s opinion that some provincial medical acts, and the means of enforcing them, are less than adequate.
CMAJ. (Correspondence) CMA policy on abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1974 Nov 02;111(9):905.
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The recent special report “Abortion: a review of CMA policy and positions” by D. A. Geekie (Can Med Assoc J ill: 474, 1974) has left many members of the CMA and many other Canadians with a feeling of confusion and a deep sense of betrayal. If this idiosyncratic interpretation of the CMA policy on abortion does reflect the official views of the organization, many physicians will seriously question their association with and participation in the activities of that body. . . .. We categorically reject Mr. Geekie’s interpretation of the CMA position on abortion, and demand that the executive of the organization repudiate this document and reissue a statement that clearly puts forth a rational statement of policy on abortion.
Watters WW. (Correspondence) CMA policy on abortion. Can Med Assoc J. 1974 Nov 02;111(9):900-902.