Journal Correspondence Archives - Page 25 of 26 - Protection of Conscience Project Library

(Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform

Peter Diggory

British Medical Journal, BMJ — British Medical Journal

Extract
As you will see this amendment makes a fundamental separation of doctors into two classes, those employed under the N.H.S. in hospitals, and all others. . . it would seem that any fully registered hospital doctor, however junior and in whatever specialty, is able to certify the need for operation, whereas a senior and highly qualified gynaecologist in private practice or possibly just retired from hospital practice would be debarred. . .

Diggory P. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform. Br Med J. 1966 February 26; 1(5486): 539

(Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform

Robert Burns

Extract
It seems reasonable, therefore, to conclude that an increasingly large number of therapeutic abortions will be dealt with privately in the future. I am therefore perturbed that an attempt is being made to limit the activities of medical practitioners who are not in the N.H.S. I refer to the desire of Lord Dilhorne to make it necessary that at least one of the two doctors who will take responsibility for a therapeutic abortion must be in the N.H.S.

Burns R. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966;1(5485):482.

(Correspondence) Abortion law reform

D.B. Paintin

Extract

Mr. Wilfrid G. Mills was right when he stated (5 February, p. 355) that the present law permits the medical profession to perform all necessary abortions. But I think he was wrong when he inferred that there was no need for reform of the law. . .

Paintin DB. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform. Br Med J. 1966 February 19; 1(5485): 482.

(Correspondence) Abortion law reform

Malcolm Potts

Extract

. . . Dr. Sim suggests the B.M.A. should press for delay in legislation on this important subject, and a leading article (29 January, p. 248) makes the same point. I do not think it is right to plead for postponement in a matter which so deeply affects the health of a very large number of women. Abortion is not a new condition like some previously unknown virus or unreported drug reaction. . . .

Potts M. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform. Br Med J. 1966 February 12; 1(5484): 422, 423

(Correspondence) Abortion law reform

Peter Darby

Extract

In view of the report which you printed (Supplement, 22 January, p. 19) of the Special Committee on Therapeutic Abortion, the following points may be of interest: (1) The Abortion Law Reform Association strongly opposes any special procedure of notification of medical termination of pregnancy . . .

Darby P. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform . Br Med J. 1966 February 12; 1(5484): 423

(Correspondence) The “conscience clause” of the Vaccination Act, 1898

C. Killick Millard

Extract

The question of retaining, mending, or ending the above clause will shortly have to be settled. There are many medical men in favour of, and seriously advocating, the last alternative. They argue (i) that a “conscience clause” is altogether wrong in principle; that it is an anomaly without precedent, and opposed to the spirit of all other compulsory legislation; and that if vaccination is to be compulsory, it should be compulsory for all. (2) That the ” conscience clause ” is greatly abused, and that its administration is becoming a farce. (3) That it has not succeeded, in the sense of securing more vaccination. . .

Millard CK. The “conscience clause” of the Vaccination Act, 1898. Br Med J. 1903 January 3; 1(2192): 49.

(Correspondence) The conscience clause

William Hardman

Extract

Whilst agreeing in toto with your timely and forcible leader as regards the moral it indicates, yet do I take exception to certain statements therein contained. I object to the statement that it is petty sessional doings which have made Section ii of the Act-the conscience clause-a laughing- stock in so many parts of the country. The reason why it is not a laughing-stock in every part of the country is either because of the good sense or correct views of the inhabitants or because the antivaccinationists have neglected to disseminate their pernicious literature and to enforce their dangerous propaganda amongst these fortunate sections. . .

Hardman W. The conscience clause (Letter). Br Med J. 1899 January 14; 1(1985): 122

(Correspondence) A Question of Conscience

Arabella Kenealy

Extract
Only this much have I suggested, that in view of that which is plainly a higher mandate; in view of the multiple miseries of the syphilitic infant and child, and its degenerate maturity; in view more especially of the fact that not upon us, but upon these miserable little creatures from whom we avert the mercy of abortion, the consequences of our interference fall, we should in all cases in which Nature is trying to cast off a syphilitic foetus thankfully allow her to do so.

Kenealy A. (Correspondence) A Question of Conscience. Br Med J. 1895;2(1815):934.

(Correspondence) A Question of Conscience

Surgeon Major

Extract
The publication of such distressing cases is of great value, as the more widely they are known the more surely we shall receive the support of all good men and women in our efforts to induce Parliament to sanction preventitive regulation, similar to those which, wisely introduced and unwisely repealed, brought, during this too brief period of existence, the priceless blessing of health, not only to men and women, but also to the little children.

Major S. (Correspondence) A Question of Conscience. Br Med J. 1895;2(1814):870.

(Correspondence) A Question of Conscience

J Foster Palmer

Extract
. . .That syphilis will convert a Caucasian child into a Mongoloid, however, is a statement ethnologists will hardly accept without further proof. The comparison, indeed, is entirely superficial and misleading . . .

Palmer JF. (Correspondence) A Question of Conscience. Br Med J. 1895;2(1814):870.