THE EDITOR, Sir:

The concept of the right of the woman to control over her reproductive life is one which various members of the Church hierarchy and their media defenders have sought to set aside as ridiculous, on the basis that all rights are limited by the need to respect the rights of others - in this case, the foetus. The argument is that the right of the foetus to survival outweighs the right of the woman to control over her life.

The logical conclusion of this is that we are willing to sacrifice a developed life in which there have been multiple social, spiritual and other investments, for a life that has not yet begun, according to standards set internationally in consultation with medical experts across the world. The safe termination period of 12 weeks, and the other dispositions relating to the danger for the life of the woman, are such.

It is often also forgotten in the arguments that among the women seeking abortions there are those who already have children for whom they are responsible, and the decision to terminate often takes into account the ability to manage their responsibilities to their existing children. I will give you one example. I was working in a community where we had had discussions about abortion with women's groups, and in this community group there was a woman of Christian faith who was dead against abortion, for the usual religious reasons.

Intense suffering

However, she called me one day to say she had to see me, and it was urgent. When I arrived, she told me her story. She had three children, two of whom had not done much with their education and lives. The third was now in high school, and doing well, and wanted to be a doctor. If she had a fourth, there was no way she could manage the support this child needed, nor her various roles in relation to the other children. The child on the verge of success would have to be sacrificed.

Pious persons speak of giving up children for adoption, or getting help to families. No society that I know, and this one in particular, has ever been able to bring that help to women in this predicament either as quickly or sufficiently as would be needed. Besides, while we hear talk of the terrible guilt of women who abort, little is said about the intense suffering of many who give up their children, nor the joy of those who have been given a chance to keep their lives on track.

To abort or not is a difficult decision for women, but it must be left to the women to decide, in accordance with the circumstances of their lives. Decisions to abort are rarely irresponsible. What women need in order to make the best decision is help through counselling, and the presentation, where they exist, of realistic, real, present and workable alternatives which do not sacrifice their lives or those of others in relation to whom they have responsibilities.

I am, etc.,

JOAN FRENCH

jfrenchF@aol.com