Editor,
NZ Herald.
Dear Sir
Abortion Damages Women’s Mental Health
Statistics New Zealand advise that there were 14,745 abortions reported in 2012, 98 per cent were authorised on the grounds of mental health. A recent study conducted in Christchurch by pro choice researcher Professor David Fergusson of the Christchurch Health and Development Study concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that there were any therapeutic effects in reducing the mental health risks of unwanted pregnancy. To the contrary, the combined results indicated that, compared to delivery of an unwanted or unintended pregnancy, abortion "was associated with small to moderate increases in risks of anxiety, alcohol misuse, illicit drug use/misuse and suicidal behavior." Professor Fergusson said that this means that abortions performed to prevent damage to the mental health of women are being performed in violation of the principles of evidenced based medicine. We must ask in the defence of women why are we inflicting the violence of abortion on women and the defenceless unborn under the pretence that we are going to protect the mental health of the mother. How can doctors uphold the ethics of their profession and perform abortions knowing that there is no evidence that they are protecting the mental health of women?
Yours faithfully
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
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