Abortion Act 'will affect recruitment of nurses'

BY A STAFF REPORTER INCREASING concern at "current commercial exploitation and abuses in the private sector" following changes in the Abortion Law is expressed to the Lane Committee, set up by the Government to inquire into the working of the Abortion Act, by doctors and nurses belonging to the inter-denominational Order of Christian Unity.
They also express concern for nurses working in the National Health sector who in practice are denied the right to the "conscience clause" because to opt out means imposing on members of their own medical team.
The health committee of the Order of Christian Unity points out: "The consequences will be a decline in the recruitment to, and retention in, the nursing profession of such young women who have always been its mainstay.
"There is probably a higher proportion of Christians among doctors and nurses than among similar peer groups. If the Christian ethic is seen to be being eroded in the National Health Service—where professional training must be under taken—it could lead to a diminCition in the number of recruits."
RISK TO LIFE
A major criticism of the working of the Act expressed by the order is that it can be interpreted to cover virtual "abortion on demand" from the wording of Clause 1 (i) (a) as there is evidence that in any pregnancy the risk to life of very early abortion is greater than a term delivery.
Another criticism is that abortion can be bought for a price, particularly in the West End of London.
Suggestions to improve the working of 'the Act include the introduction of regulations to make it illegal for any fee to be charged by a doctor authorising an abortion, and that independent medical referees should be involved in the process of authorisation.
UNDER PRESSURE The following are extracts from letters received by the Order of Christian Unity, and included in the evidence submitted to the Lane Committee.
A State Registered Nurse (Church of Scotland), writing of the effect of the Act on the "work load" at the hospital where she works: "The working tempo became a nightmare for the nursing staff working in the ward and theatre areas . • .
"Not unnaturally, while working under this pressure, the nursing staff gradually found the duties connected with the treatment of these patients distasteful and something which they could not ethically support.
"These attitudes were quite apart from any objections they held based upon religious teachings or for reasons of conscience . . . The number of patients on the gynaecological waiting list grew and frequently those receiving a notice that a bed was available for their treatment found it was cancelled at the last moment." A Catholic general practitioner writes: "Why not a controlled price for abortion? The Act was not intended to make fortunes for abortionists. The offence was to procure abortion for gain; if this is proven it is still an offence, and a doctor is liable to be struck off the Medical Register.
"A local abortion clinic admits to performing 40 abortions weekly. Its fees are £100 minimum and many of its clients are foreign girls. How can the legality of the operation be ensured 'in good faith' for these girls operated on the day of their arrival in this country?"
'FROM THE SKIES'
Another Catholic doctor writes: "My son and I work together and have the same attitude towards the present situation of the abortions: we just say `No.' Women of all nationalities seem to fall from the skies (usually by taxi) into our busy practice and ask us what they can do about their unwanted pregnancy.
"We tell them, as nicely as possible, that we do not take part in the abortion arrangement, and this ends the interview. Who brings them to us we shall never know as we have never asked; it would only add to their embarrassment and we have no curiosity of our own.
"We have also had telephone calls from abroad, mainly from Italy, from perfect strangers. I would say that at least two of such patients call on us every week — the largest majority from abroad."