Graphic abortion video rattles parliamentarians

ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, November 14, 2008

A graphic video showing various abortion techniques - a last-ditch effort by the Coalition for the Defence of Life to discourage the passing of a law to decriminalise abortion - yesterday made several parliamentarians uneasy.

The video, which formed part of a compelling presentation made by coalition chair Dr Doreen Brady-West, made even the most stoic members of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament contemplating the report of the Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group drop their eyes and shift in their seats.

Health Minister and Committee Chair Rudyard "Ruddy" Spencer, who at the onset had warned that if the contents became too graphic the committee would discontinue viewing, was visibly uneasy and even left the chamber at one point.

"I can't even question you on the film. I am a weakling when it comes to certain things," he said afterwards.

Brady-West, in her presentation, urged the committee to "reject the recommendations contained in the report" of the advisory group and called for an examination of all the relevant issues.

She said what was to be encouraged was the implementation of measures to improve antenatal care, since this has been shown to decrease maternal mortality, prevent sexual assault of women and girls and ensure effective punishment for perpetrators of sexual crimes.

Brady-West, who also presented some 87,000 signatures of Jamaicans who were not in support of abortion, also disputed the stance by the advisory group that making safe abortions accessible would reduce the maternal mortality rate.

"In Jamaica, abortion is a minor contributor to direct maternal deaths," she said, noting that countries have achieved low maternal mortality rates without the legalisation of abortion.
The advisory group was established by former Health Minister John Junor in 2005 following concerns that abortion was the third leading cause of death in adolescents and that unsafe abortions constituted the eighth leading cause of maternity death in Jamaica.

It subsequently recommended that Sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Person Act be repealed and replaced with a Termination of Pregnancy Act to provide for the training of doctors, the establishment of special clinics and medical facilities, counselling, public education and punishment of persons in breach.

Currently under the Offences Against the Person Act, persons identified as having made the slightest contribution to abortion are liable to life in prison.

It was, however, uncertain how much weight yesterday's shock treatment will carry in the final determination of the committee.

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