Journals Archives - Page 78 of 108 - Protection of Conscience Project Library

(Correspondence) Abortion and the DPG ratio

(Dr. Bart responds)

John Bart

Canadian Medical Association Journal, CMAJ — Canadian Medical Association Journal

Extract
These two letters, one so clear, the other so impassioned, seem to have the right of it; so too do the arguments of their opponents when I read them. Therein lies the rub: everyone is right, according to his lights. The question for the rest of us is, How bright are these lights? I for one do not know. . . .”In a world where everyone is right, nothing is left but personal responsibility. That will take you down the straight and narrow road to whatever you and yours deserve. That is the true meaning of PR. I wish we all did just that, good PR, instead of living each others’ lives, which is where all the trouble comes from.” . . . “You mind your business, I’ll mind mine; then everyone will have an easier time.”.

Bart J. (Correspondence) Abortion and the DPG ratio (Dr. Bart responds). Can Med Assoc J. 1991;143(3):277.

(Correspondence) CMA’s Code of Ethics

Robert H Brown

Summary
Writer asks Canadian Medical Association to clarify if prohibition of abortion in Hippocratic Oath is considered invalid by the CMA.

Brown RH. (Correspondence) CMA’s Code of Ethics. Can Med Assoc J. 1990;143(2):88.

(Correspondence) CMA’s Code of Ethics

Eike-Henner Kluge (Canadian Medical Association)

Extract
(Quotes preamble to Hippocratic Oath) Whoever takes this oath swears to use his or her judgement in following the clauses that form the body of the oath. Therefore, if in the best judgement of a physician it is medically appropriate to perform an abortion, then this oath allows the physician to perform the abortion. In fact, given the whole tenor and thrust of the oath, it could even be argued that in such a case the oath enjoins the physician to perform an abortion as a matter of conscientious and professional medical practice. . .there is no contradiction between saying that the CMA’s Code of Ethics retains the principles in the oath and saying that the CMA’s policy on abortion is in keeping with its Code of Ethics.

Kluge E-H. (Correspondence) CMA’s Code of Ethics. Can Med Assoc J. 1990 Jul 15;143(2):88-89.

(Correspondence) Abortion as mayhem

R H Boardman

Extract
The criminalization of abortion in Britain stemmed from the crime of mayhem. Any act that left the victim less able to serve the monarch was mayhem. . . Abortion might deprive the monarch of a future British soldier, so it was considered mayhem. Its criminalization had little to do with the sanctity of life.

Boardman RH. (Correspondence) Abortion as mayhem. Can Med Assoc J. 1990;142(11):1183.

Hospital’s decision to pursue fetal transplantation upsets antiabortionists

Deborah Jones

Extract
Canada’s first research project involving the transplantation of tissue from aborted fetuses into patients with Parkinson’s disease is an issue entirely separate from abortion, the researchers say. However . . . The fetal transplant procedure creates enormous ethical dilemmas for many. Critics state that any use of abortion-related material is wrong because abortion itself is wrong. Some also charge that fetal transplantation will inevitably lead to the “harvesting” of fetuses and make some women “fetus factories”. . . .However, supporters of fetal transplantation state that abortion is an entirely separate issue . . . “We’re simply using the products of women, who have chosen abortion, for research purposes”, said Kathy Coffin of the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League. . . .

Jones D. Hospital’s decision to pursue fetal transplantation upsets antiabortionists. Can Med Assoc J. 1990 Jun 01;142(11):1277.

(Correspondence) CMA’s response to abortion bill

Donald S Stephens

Extract
Doctors, won’t you admit yet that abortion is the only medical act other than euthanasia whose purpose is to kill people?

Stephens DS. (Correspondence) CMA’s response to abortion bill. Can Med Assoc J. 1990 Apr 15;142(8):798.

(Correspondence) CMA’s response to the abortion bill

Donald Jansen

Extract
The recent decision of the CMA Board of Directors to approach the House of Commons legislative committee in regard to the proposed abortion law is not a bad idea; it’s just that the reasoning is unimaginable, and the conclusion the board has reached is outrageous. . . . Abortion remains what it has always been: the destruction of innocent life. As a medical procedure it shares company with the foulest of deeds. . . Are Canadians to believe that abortion should become an acceptable procedure in hospitals because physicians kill best?

Jansen D. (Correspondence) CMA’s response to the abortion bill. Can Med Assoc J. 1990 Mar 15;142(6):515-516.

(Correspondence) A woman is her fetus?

Brian A Shamess

Extract
Unwanted pregnancy is a social and economic issue. No one would deny that there are very real hardships created by unwanted pregnancy. I have personal experience to attest to this. It seems to me that killing your baby is the worst possible solution. Statements such as “a woman is her fetus” are untrue and do nothing to enlighten the debate.

Shamess BA. (Correspondence) A woman is her fetus? Can Med Assoc J. 1990 Mar 01;142(5):437.

(Correspondence) Abortion and the DPG ratio

John Bart

Extract
“When the doctor thinks he is closer to his god than he is to his patient, that’s when he sins with style and vigour.” (He did not add “ignoramus”; it was implicit in his sarcastic stare.) I beg to offer his advice to all those who would tell their patients how to behave morally. Don’t exceed the DPG ratio. Let the patient make the decision for herself and carry the responsibility. You do likewise – for yourself. After all, you are just another person with specialized knowledge, and that implies specialized limits. By all means don’t do what you don’t want to do, but don’t play godlet. It doesn’t suit the image of dispassionate adviser.

Bart J. (Correspondence) Abortion and the DPG ratio. Can Med Assoc J. 1990;142(5):437-438.

(News) CMA brief slams abortion bill, says legislation not needed

Patrick Sullivan

Extract
The CMA has proposed an amendment that would make abortion an indictable offence “unless [it] is induced by or under the direction of a medical practitioner in accordance with generally accepted standards of the medical profession”. The association has also asked that a new section be added to protect patients, hospitals and physicians from the “threat and costs of unjustified, politically or harassment-inspired criminal charges”. That amendment would mean that no prosecution could be instituted under the new law without consent of an attorney general. The CMA thinks this would help eliminate the laying of frivolous charges by antiabortionists . . .

Sullivan P. CMA brief slams abortion bill, says legislation not needed. Can Med Assoc J. 1990;142(4):377-378.