A report from South Africa:
Ideally, The Termination of Pregnancy Act should be replaced by a Human Life Amendment Act that would protect the right to life of preborn babies. By God's grace we believe that this can and will happen. As we continue to fight for complete reform, we can also fight for reform that will curb the amount of abortions taking place.
Our country is faced with a plague of unwanted abortions - cases where mothers would rather carry their pregnancies to term but instead submit to unwanted abortions to satisfy the demands of others or because they feel they would have no financial and emotional support if they kept their baby. Most women seeking an abortion are not given a full explanation of their other options, nor of the possible risks of breast cancer, depression and difficulties in future pregnancies. American research shows that at least 70 percent of aborting women in America believe that what they are doing is morally wrong, or at least, 'deviant' behaviour. Thus many women are seeking abortions not because they believe it is the right thing to do, but because, given the pressures they face, they feel it is the only thing they can do.
Most women seeking abortions in South Africa are not told about counselling services available at Pregnancy Crisis Centres and the options of adoption, foster care, 'safe houses' or child grants. By law, a women is required to give her 'informed consent' before having an abortion. This includes having 'full knowledge' and appreciation of "the nature and extent of the harm or risk".
How You Can Help:
1. Africa Christian Action is looking for several women who have had abortions and are prepared to speak about the physical, emotional and spiritual pain they experienced as a result. Their stories would be used for a publication. Contact: Taryn Hodgson, tel: (021) 6894481 or info@christianaction.org.za.
2. John Smyth, legal advisor to Doctors for Life (DFL), is looking for a woman who has had an abortion in the last two years and now regrets it, and did not receive proper counselling at the time. This case would serve to highlight that proper counseling is not being provided for women seeking abortions and could be used to force hospitals and clinics performing abortions to provide better counselling in the future. Further details follow.
Doctors for Life want a suitable case with which to test in Court the requirement of Counselling and Informed Consent in the Abortion Act.
John Smyth is looking for a woman who has had an abortion in the last two years and now regrets it. Ideally we need a woman who:
1. Clearly remembers that she was NOT counselled about either of the following matters:
(a) Alternatives to abortion such as adoption, fostering or keeping the child.
(b) The risks of an abortion. She should have been told about 3 risks: Breast cancer, depression after a number of years if not immediately, difficulties of a future pregnancy.
2. Says that had she received such counselling, she would not have gone ahead with the abortion.
If you know of such a person could you please approach her and explain:
1. If she were willing to allow DFL to conduct a case for her it might well mean that other women would be spared the regrets she is now suffering.
2. She might receive some damages, but we cannot guarantee that.
3. She would be completely indemnified against any costs whatsoever, and if necessary we would pay her expenses of getting to court.
4. If she is prepared to consider it, I would travel to see her and talk it over without any obligation at that stage. If necessary her name can be kept secret.
Thank you for your help.
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