Protection of Conscience Project Library
Service, not Servitude
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It was a delight to read the frank and well-written article by Dr. William G. Green (Can Med Assoc J 1988; 139: 325-326) “I have no answer to the abortion issue, but here is the question”. There has been so much heat and emotion surrounding this issue . . . We have heard too much from those at the extremes.
Simpson CA. (Correspondence) Abortion: cool common sense. Can Med Assoc J. 1988 Oct 01;139(7):612.
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The approximately 230 General Council members took just over an hour to approve the proposed policy in toto, despite strenuous objections from some doctors. . . .Dr. David Knickle, a Charlottetown obstetrician who raised the loudest voice against the new policy, countered that it “simply is carte blanche abortion on demand”. However, his motion that the association “state its op- position to nontherapeutic abortions” received almost no support. . . . Dr. William MacDiarmid of Winnipeg, a member of the CMA’s Committee on Ethics, spoke against the Knickle motion, arguing that because the CMA is a reflection of society, it has to avoid taking an extreme position. “Many of us are in the middle”, he said.
Sullivan P. New abortion policy approved for CMA despite some vocal opposition. Can Med Assoc J. 1988;139(6):542-544.
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In response to Dr. Myre Sim’s shopworn fulminations (Can Med Assoc 11988; 138: 742- 743), I am one doctor who has been off the fence and on firm ground for some time on the matter of abortion. . . The key to reducing the problem of ethically troublesome abortions remains quick, easy access to abortion, which includes improvement in the early identification of genetic defects. The key to reducing the numbers of abortions includes increasing awareness of the still dire need of children for information about sex, sexuality and birth control and increasing promotion of ethics as an object of study in school.
Cragg CE. (Correspondence) Abortion: it is time for doctors to get off the fence. Can Med Assoc J. 1988 Jul 16;139(2):99.
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It was Dr. Robbie Mahood who suggested that physicians have a duty to speak out on abortion and other health care issues. I merely reported his comments. On the lack of response by pro-choice physicians to the Supreme Court decision, I was making a statement of fact. . . .
Sullivan P. (Correspondence) Mr. Sullivan replies. Can Med Assoc J. 1988;138(12):1088. Available from:
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All medical procedures should have proper medical indications; and when these indications are being abused strict guidelines are laid down by the profession; those who ignore them are censured. . . .Bart would have abortion specifically excluded from such guidelines, yet abortion carries certain death for the fetus as well as hazards for the pregnant woman. Medical ethics are specifically designed to curb unwholesome and dangerous medical practices. . . abortion on nonmedical grounds, which includes most, is a male- inspired maneuver. . .
Sim M. (Correspondence) Abortion: Is it time for doctors to get off the fence? Dr. Sim responds. Can Med Assoc J. 1988 Jun 15;139(4):1085.
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I was present at the death of a woman whose uterus had been torn open and infected by a coat hanger. Anything is better than that: she died through poverty and ignorance, and her whole family suffered. . . .Medical ethics are an extension of personal ethics, not an abstract entity with a special name. I believe what I believe, and he believes what he believes. Sim should not force his opinions upon others. That is what the Nazis did. . . . We are not on the fence, Dr. Sim. We are exercising our free will and not interfering with that of others. We believe that women are capable of decisions without an avuncular physician’s approval. We think that freedom from unwanted pregnancy is a cornerstone of feminine freedom. Without that, society is male dominated, unequal and the poorer for it. Please do not equate abortion with euthanasia. The two are not synonymous. Please do not equate your opinion with moral rectitude either. Anything is better than that.
Bart J. (Correspondence) Abortion: Is it time for doctors to get off the fence? Can Med Assoc J. 1988;139(4):1085.
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Although he may feel uncomfortable about being involved in abortions, the term “pro-abortion” is accurate. The term “pro-choice”, medically speaking, refers to a choice between killing a fetus and allowing it to live. The fetus is distinct in every way from the mother. . . . This is a medical fact. Therefore, doctors who perform abortions and the staff of abortion clinics are “pro-abortion”. Certainly they are “pro-choice” as well, in that they will allow a woman to choose between killing and granting life to the unborn child. . .
Shamess BA. (Correspondence) “Pro-abortion” versus “pro-choice”. Can Med Assoc J. 1988 May 15;138(10):890.
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While physicians opposed to abortion have responded with articles . . . most doctors from the pro-choice side have remained quiet. Dr. Robbie Mahood is an exception. . . . “I certainly don’t support abortion as a method of birth control”. Has the abortion issue creat- ed divisions in the medical profession? “Certainly there is disagreement within the profession about this, but this probably reflects the division within the general population”, Mahood said. “I would guess that there is a pro-choice majority [among physicians].”
Sullivan P. Dr. Robbie Mahood: Pro-choice physician says doctors have a duty to speak out. Can Med Assoc J. 1988;138(8):734. Available from:
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When Germany occupied Holland during the Second World War, it declared that it would introduce its Nuremberg Laws. They allowed for the sterilization and liquidation of the “unfit” and other acts that were later declared crimes against humanity. . . .Dutch physicians declared that they had to accept the fact they were living in an occupied country during wartime and were, therefore, bound by certain laws, but they reaffirmed their responsibility to respect all human life. They would not yield on the issue. . . . Dutch doctors preserved their ethical code. . . .[a] medical procedure [that] involves the destruction of human life. . . strikes at the roots of medical ethics: respect for human life. I consider abortion on demand the precursor of euthanasia on demand. . . Are doctors to wait to see which way things are going before they decide which path to follow, or should they take a lead in restoring honour to the profession?
Sim M. Abortion: it is time for doctors to get off the fence. Can Med Assoc J. 1988 Apr 15;138(8):742-743.
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The CMA will establish an ad hoc committee to review the association’s abortion policy in the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada’s Jan. 28 ruling that over- turned Criminal Code restrictions on abortion.
Blair L. (News) New committee will review CMA’s abortion policy, board decides. Can Med Assoc J. 1988;138(7):643.