Docs speak out about abortion

Calgary Sun ^ | May 13, 2007 | Ted Byfield

[buzzyboop]

Canada, which reputedly provides the most open legal access to abortion in the western world, doesn't provide access enough, said an abortion rights group last week.

Many women can't get abortions at all, or are subjected to long delays. The group's solution: Require doctors by law to perform abortions whether they like it or not.

This demand, made upon the Canadian Medical Association by Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, inadvertently disclosed a curious fact. Though abortion is technically legal in Canada up to the moment of birth, so many doctors refuse to do it that access to it is effectually restricted.

Some doctors reject abortion on purely professional grounds. Medicine is about healing sick people and pregnancy isn't a sickness.

Others regard as morally repugnant the forcible extinction of a human life.

Under CMA rules, a doctor need neither perform an abortion nor direct a patient to an abortion-provider.

Only 15% of hospitals provide the service and that percentage is declining.

Physicians, says Saporta, must put their patients' interest ahead of "their own religious and moral convictions."

[flipper999]

Wow, when we eliminate the Dr’s with a conscience...what will be left...Dr’s willing to kill. Hmmm just the Doc I want doing my surgery.

[outofstyle]

Physicians, says Saporta, must put their patients' interest ahead of "their own religious and moral convictions."

Physicians caring for pregnant women have two patients, the mother and the baby. I don't believe Ms. Saporta really cares about either patient.

[Navy Patriot]

This will have unintended consequences. Canadian doctors can find employment in a host of medical fields outside Canada. Many vacation in Florida the last three months of each year. They just might stay here.

[baa39]

“Pretty dang depressing, if true. Can you document that? (I’m not disputing you, I’d just like to know more about it.)”

Look at Medicare. I live in a small town with a shortage of doctors. The best ones refuse to accept new patients if they’re on Medicare; they don’t want a clientele of demanding old people who pay the lowest fees. Also, many HMO’s do not offer coverage here because the low population size makes in unprofitable. Hence, no doctors will come to practice here, they just can’t make money.

Then there is the other side of the coin, Medicare, not doctors, deciding what should be covered and what not. They won’t pay for a Naturopath, but they will a physical therapist, but only to a limited amount per year.

My neighbor, who is a physical therapist, has just decided to accept only “private practice” patients and not bill ANY insurance at all. She is not sure if she will get enough patients this way, so is also starting her own Ebay business in case she needs to close her medical office!

This does not have anything to do with abortion, but my point is in some ways practicing medicine is being made unappealing by both the government (Medicare) and HMO’s.

[vpintheak]

Compare this to the North Carolina doctors who refuse and threaten to blacklist any physician who takes part in a lawful execution. Their excuse is it violate their oath. Abortion violating any oaths, huh doctors?

[gas_dr]

Many vacation in Florida the last three months of each year. They just might stay here.

Expect for the pesky fact that the Florida Board of Medicine would likely not grant licenses to these physicians. It is hard as heck to gdet a medical license in this state, and the board does not view transplants who are down here 3 months at a time kindly.

[RansomOttawa]

Though abortion is technically legal in Canada up to the moment of birth, so many doctors refuse to do it that access to it is effectually restricted.

They're just exercising their "right to choose." Deal with it, lady.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“They’re just exercising their “right to choose.” Deal with it, lady.”

Exactly! It would be a huge blow to lose the privilege to practice medicine, but I would never let any government force me to do something that was against my conscience. It’s hard enough in life to do the right things and make the right decisions each day, and to have added to that struggle coercive pressure by the government to do what you don’t believe in is reprehensible.

[laotzu]

..what are you going to do with your already overtaxed, understaffed and lousy system of health care?

Wow. Strong, assertive language. Thats good.

At what price would you start murdering innocent babies?

[WorkingClassFilth]

Me? Zip. Nada. Never.

[trisham]

I think you may have missed his point.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The group's solution: Require doctors by law to perform abortions whether they like it or not.

Guess this "group" will have to do its own surgeries and heal its own illnesses then, as doctors will drop out of the profession in droves.

[Navy Patriot]

Hey Doc,

I was referring to the reason Canadian doctors go to Florida. The primary reason is the way they are paid, effectively they have a salary cap and they reach that in about 9 months. If they treat any more patients they sort of work for free the rest of the year, so, many vacation in Florida till after the New Year and then go back to work. Also, Florida is a great place to vacation in winter. I didn't intend to represent that Canadian doctors would try to work in Florida three months of each year. I represented that possibly they would permanently emigrate and practice in the entire USA and other attractive nations.

NP