SOCIAL PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 11

SOCIAL PROBLEM

DOCTOR'S VIEW

PUBLIC

■''cPraise for. and comment- on the report of the special committee set up by the Government to inquire into the prohlem .of, tabor.tion in New Zealand were expressed to the "Evening Post" today by a leading member of the medical profession, whose opinions may be taken to represent those of the profession'as a whole.- ' . . ■".

■ "From the-purely medical point of wiew the problem, is a simple one/1 he -s.aioL,. "On- the evidence-submitted the Committee estimates 'that. 4000 abortions are procured every year in New --Zealand,' mainly by means vof instru-

-..Tnents, either; used by the person her- •: self-or by some outside person.; These r outside persons included a few unprincipled doctors and chemists, a few women with varying degrees of nurs- .; tog draining, and a number of unskilled 'persons.' The natural result is a high -■mortality in these cases. ,

■■-c.01 -"In'-.the report as printed in the daily rjPr.ess. there is unfortunately'no -men- • ration of. the: serious • after-effects in a :-:yery large number of the cases who do not'die as a consequence of the, inter.ferehce,"- said."The Post's" informant. •■■-This is a -medical problem- of some .- magnitude and should be stressed very -.strongly... The-after-effects ymay not .••only lead-to-sterility,-but also to - prolonged • and maybe, permanent ■ ill- -■ health. The-only, way to prevent the ill-effects of induced abortion is natur-■■-ally prevention, -and that is not a ■-medical-but;:a social problem. ■ ; <=.••!:•■ "The ■ standard of :matemity service ,-.!-. in New Zealand is'-very high at represent, and this" is .rightly emphasised •-;!irt-the, report," said, the doctor. - .;;■.:' ,c;: "The- importance- of domestic-,. help -■being provided in the homes of - not ■-: only expectant, and nursing mothers •"but also "for all mothers, with young children is supremely important," he continued, "and I.consider the recommendation of the special committee on this point-to Be perhaps the most valuable one they have made. I hope their suggestion'of a* further inquiry into this subject will be acted,upon as soon-as possible^ ■ ' ■■"'.-■' "The committee; did not recommend specific legislation for. therapeutic abortion and■ believes this is in .agreement "with'l;he general view of the-medical profession, which sees great danger in relaxing "the legal ' barriers' against abortion for therapeutic and especiallyfor economic reasons. The professionwill also .agree.to the,recommendations " with regard to sterilisation," : said the '"doctor.:. :' \ :':..,;;' .'v. REASON FOR-PREVALENCE. . "From the' social' apart from the purely medical' aspect it appears that . the induction of abolition is a natural ; consequence of the determination of a ; very large- sectionI', of: the "community ' tp either prevent or strictly limit child- ( bearing. ' . . ■' i

"As the induction of ■ abortion is a criminal act the only means whereby it can be carried out is by: unqualified and uritrained'Vpersons of questionable morality. The only, persons who. could -carry out the.induction.with.the mini- ■-. mum risk are' medical practitioners, ■who .are precluded, by .the law. and -'their honour .from ."so ...doing. ~. The . committee, rightly stresses.the only.too well known fact that juries as a rule hesitate to convict the criminal abortionist;1 -There 4s •no ' .dptjb.t that as long as there is such'a'large'body of public opinion in, favour of'the prevention and limitation of, childbirth and also a; sufficient body1 of "public'opinion to prevent the conviction of the abortionist .then>the .problem, .of,, the high; death-rate'!and high rate of serious illnessj associated with. the induction .. of abortion'will continue. "A. change in our social outlook' will alone bring about, a: solution: of' the .problem," concluded the doctor. ' "In the 'meantime every, assistance and'en,icouragement 'should be given to those . -who do ;accept the responsibility of 'parenthood and' their' burdens should, be lightened,, financially.'(e.g., as suggested by Lord Bledisloe, by substan-tial-abatement of; taxation) .and • especially byHhe'. provision of domestic help." ~■;•. .; . ..-' ~/ ';.'■'...-"■• ■.'■'■ '-..