The EDITOR, Sir:

Recently, the 17-member Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group recommended that the current laws prohibiting the practice of abortion be repealed and replaced with legislation outlining conditions under which medical termination of pregnancy would be lawful. The background is the 'fact' that there exist "an alarming number of botched abortions taking place in the island," thus, burdening the public health sector.

Furthermore, the existing statute declares the act of abortion to be a felony; that is, a pregnant woman who seeks an abortion and anyone helping her to obtain one are subject to prosecution. Implicit herein is the argument made by feminists and liberals who are against all (external) power to limit a woman's right to make decisions about her health, citing that existing laws severely erode the constitutional respect and protection accorded to women and the personal decisions they make about pregnancy and childbirth.

True, that 'abortion-on-demand' will reduce the 'black-market' trend associated with 'botched abortions'. However, will it change the economic or social conditions of these "young, poor, unemployed" women; least the psychological impact? Then again, while every child should be a wanted child, can one choose against the child because one disapproves of the circumstance(s)?

All these are real difficult decisions, which must be taken into account. Indeed, if we are to arrive at a 'just' decision at all, then it is only 'right' to examine all contending arguments in full detail.

I am, etc.,

D.K. NELSON

butvenus@yahoo.com