Sir, - I am sure Ms McCann (June 1st) is unaware that tragically the care and support of women following an abortion is becoming an increasingly time-consuming part, and a difficult part, of the work we find it necessary to undertake in Life Pregnancy Care. Never would we refer to any post abortion woman as, or imply in any way that she was, a murderer.
The philosophy of Life is simply to accept any woman where she is, whether pregnant or following an abortion and give all the care and time she needs to get through her time of difficulty. Or if pregnant, Life will offer her all support possible so that any perceived pressures to have an abortion are minimised and she is in possession of all the facts relevant to the making of her decision. No-one other than the woman herself is able to make her decision but it is incumbent on her counsellor to ensure, as far as possible, that she is fully informed of her sources of support and the possible consequences of taking any particular course of action. The honest approach is to help her accept that whatever choice she makes she will always have been pregnant and there will be pain whether she opts to keep the baby, have it adopted and particularly if she chooses abortion.
A Life counsellor may be contacted from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. every day of the year by ringing the Helpline on 1850 281 281 or by calling to any of our care centres during opening hours. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Patrick Davey, Chairman, Life Pregnancy Care (Dublin). Dame Street, Dublin 2.