The Athenaeum

Tag: abortion

  • Opinion: Big Win for Pro-Choice Supporters

    Opinion: Big Win for Pro-Choice Supporters

    Abortion is a reality that some young women unfortunately have to face. Circumstances regarding the future of a newly conceived fetus are different for everybody and deciding to abort is a brave choice that women may end up coming to. I imagine it would take a lot out of an individual to be able to make a decision such as the one at hand. Too commonly the pressures after making the decision can often be worse. With immense controversy surrounding pro-life vs. pro-choice, getting access to an abortion pill is a battle within itself.

    Although some provinces have stipulations in place regarding protesters in a certain proximity to a women’s health clinic the reality is that most in places these protesters are hard to avoid. With the pressure of the protesters, ability to access and the price of an abortion pill putting a dent in the wallet, it is no wonder that woman all over the world are relying on shady websites with cheap pills to help them out.

    In 2005 the service Women on Web founded by Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, a physician in the Netherlands, made it their mission to deliver pills in the mail to women seeking an abortion after the online consultation with a physician. Due to the backlash by anti-abortion agencies Women on Web were unable to sell pills to North America out of fear of being shut down. Thirteen years later, Rebbeca Gomperts has moved her fight to America and a startup with the initiative to deliver proper and safe pills for a lower cost in the United States has launched.

    While many abortion pills are sold online, they lack any sort of medical oversight. Gomperts American startup, Aid Access, requires a consultation by all applicants. These consultations usually consist of a detailed questionnaire that will be filled out by applicants and sent to the desk of Gompert and colleagues. The doctors then review each questionnaire to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive the pill at which point if the applicant is, the prescription gets sent to the pharmacy to fill and from there sent to the applicants’ house. If anyone has questions or concerns about the product, they are able to call Gompert via Skype or her helpdesk for further clarification.

    In addition to the safe delivery of a doctor prescribed abortion pills, the cost of getting the consultation and pill with shipping amounts to only $95 American Dollars. Without insurance in the United States, women pay anywhere from $400-600 in a clinic. In comparison to other abortion services, Aid Access is not only a safe alternative but a cheaper one to help out people who simply can’t afford or don’t have access to other services.

    In an interview with Business Insider UK Gomperts announced, “[Aid Access] is not intended to replace any existing [abortions] services at all. That’s not the intention. The intention is to be a backup for women that cannot access the other services that exist. Abortion should be much easier to access in the US than it is now.”

    As a young female living in Canada, I believe that this problem of accessing abortion methods and services is something that our country lacks. Similarly to the US, there is a large number of abortion options available expanding across our country but in addition to long wait times they aren’t always safe, accessible, affordable (depending on insurance), or due to protestors free from shame. This begs the question: Why hasn’t anyone tried to accomplish what Gompert has as safely and securely before? Although it is 2018 areas such as abortion access still need improvement. It is with hope, that Gomperts initiatives are just a starting point regarding alternatives for abortion and that from this base both the United States and Canada can expand and improve. It is time that we stop judging and start helping to better the lives of others around us.

    Rylie Moscato is a first year English student and Wellness Columnist for The Athenaeum

  • Abortion Access in P.E.I: Better Late Than Never

    Abortion Access in P.E.I: Better Late Than Never

     

    Pro-choice advocates of Prince Edward Island can finally relax. They put down their picket signs and let out sighs out of relief because future generations of women will not have to jump through hoops to have basic access to surgical abortions on the Island. It has been nearly thirty years since abortion was decriminalized across Canada, but Prince Edward Island just agreed to lift all barriers, allowing an abortion clinic to be set up in-province. In January 2016, Abortion Access PEI, a pro-choice advocacy group, launched a lawsuit against the government accusing them of denying women rights based on a moral choice they don’t have the right to make. The provincial government announced on March 31st that they will not fight the lawsuit after being informed that they would not be able to win the legal battle since they have an obligation under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to offer surgical abortion services. Abortion Access PEI hopes to have the first abortion clinic open by the end of 2016.

    There is no denying that this is a great accomplishment for pro-choice advocates and the health care access in Canada, but why did it take the local government so much longer than the rest of Canada’s provinces to get on board? While the rest of the country was setting up clinics to provide women with access to this procedure, Prince Edward Island’s government was passing a nonbinding resolution to not offer abortion on the island. Since this measure was not binding, it was not a legal measure the government made, but a moral one. One suggested motive is the strong affiliation between Christianity and the pro-life movement. Pope Francis, on behalf of the Catholic Church said, “Among the vulnerable for whom the church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us.” Christianity is by far the most dominant religion on the island; according to Stats Canada over 80% of residents on the island are Christian. This could have an effect on the moral stance of the government of Prince Edward Island who has been vocally pro-life in the long and heated dispute.

    The effects of lack of access to abortion services have been tragic for the women of Prince Edward Island. The government only recently started paying for the procedure for some women after they met the requirements of two doctors. Other women were forced to pay out of pocket for abortions that can cost up to $800. This does not include the cost of leaving the island, transportation, and hotel stays that are often necessary after the surgery. The financial strain is tremendous but there are also physical barriers such as bridge closures due to inclement weather conditions, preventing women from getting to their appointments. Women have turned to unsafe methods of home abortion methods that range from inserting a coat hanger, knitting needle etc. into the uterus as well as chemical pills. There have also been cases of women physically assaulting themselves by punching their uterus, falling down stairs, and even taking their own lives.

    Finally, the women of Prince Edward Island will be granted the same right to access to abortion services as the rest of their fellow Canadians. Regardless of your stance on abortion, we can still wonder why it took the government of Prince Edward Island thirty years to make a decision that the rest of the country made so long ago, especially when this decision denied citizens the rights ensured in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

  • They’ve Got the Lawyers, They Need the Access

    They’ve Got the Lawyers, They Need the Access

    Women in the province of Prince Edward Island have been fighting for their reproductive rights for years. It is the only Canadian province that does not offer surgical abortions. Women’s groups have tried a number of unsuccessful political channels, but most recently realized that nothing short of a court ordered solution will cause the government to change its position on the issue.

    Kelly McMillan of Nijhawan McMillan Barristers litigation boutique in Halifax shares the ins and outs of the Abortion Access Now PEI challenge against the PEI government. McMillan, along with partner Nasha Nijhawan, are the lead counsel representing the Women’s group.

    Currently, island women must travel to Moncton, New Brunswick to receive the procedure. A recent change from the previous policy of having to travel to Halifax for treatment after having received a referral from a physician. Although the procedure itself is covered by the province, the cost of travel and accommodations are the responsibility of the women.

    Some of the issues that the government is ignoring with these arrangements are these:

    1. Travel across the Maritimes is pricey, especially considering that hefty $46 toll to cross the Confederation Bridge.
    2. Women are unable to drive after having completed the procedure and most procedures are performed in the mornings, requiring women to stay over night out of province.
    3. Many women will have to arrange a support person to accompany them, booking time off from work and even childcare services. This is imposing on the access of young women or women in abusive relationships or lower income situations.
    4. Women’s access had up until recently been conditional upon the “approval” of their doctor by requiring a referral by a physician. Visit thesovereignuterus.wordpress.com if you wish to read stories of island women sharing their experiences, which range from being denied health care post procedure to stories of doctors requesting sums of money in exchange for a referral.

    And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

    Let’s keep in mind that this is a simple 10 minute procedure that is able to be performed by any primary care physician. It is not classified as a complex or specialized procedure in the provincial health plan that would have justification to be regionalized and require travel off island. Essentially the same procedure is being offered to women with incomplete miscarriage who must access a D&C.

    Doctors have come forward with a cost effective business plan in hopes to offer the service to island women but were halted by the former Minister of Health, Doug Currie, as their proposals are not consistent with the provinces policy to not offer abortions. This policy was written in 1988.

    So what is Abortion Access Now PEI doing about it? Along with the Nijhawan & McMillan they have challenged the government on the following:

    1. Administered Law – The former Minister of Health, Doug Currie, was acting outside the scope of his authority. He was upholding the anti-abortion policy when his duty was to uphold the PEI Health Care system. He failed to uphold his duty under the statue to administer health care in accordance with the government health plan which outlined services that will be provided in island hospitals, including gynecological surgery.
    2. The Charter Arguments – The group is arguing that the government is violating women’s rights to equal access of health care services as they are singling out a medical procedures only required by women. The courts have recognized that pregnancy discrimination is sex discrimination; therefore, singling out a procedure that is only required by pregnant women with differential treatment can result in discrimination. They are also addressing that this policy infringes on women’s rights to choose and their autonomy over important decisions about their body and family life.

    The current abortion policy perpetuates the stigma associated with the procedure. The Prince Edward Island government is sending a strong signal to island women that they do not approve of their freedom of choice. They are reinforcing the historical disadvantage that women have faced trying to exercise control over reproduction. Overall, once a government decides it’s going to offer a health care system, it must do so in a manner that does not discriminate. They must provide services equally.

    So far, many islanders have voiced their support on this issue. In fact, posters displaying the beloved Anne of Green Gables have begun to appear across the province. The posters, created by @iamkarats, are addressed to the Premier in support of island women and are requesting access now. Hopefully this message is received before the court rulings for this case on April 4th.

    Have an opinion or want the government to concede? Voice it to Prince Edward Island’s Premier, Wade MacLauchlan. The office telephone number is: 902-368-4400.

    A huge thank you to my cousin, Kelly McMillan, for sharing her knowledge and translating legal jargon for my understanding.

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