Dear reader,
An intern doctor (and avid anti-abortionist) appeared before a disciplinary hearing through the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in August of this year for allegedly dissuading a pregnant woman from terminating her pregnancy and likening it to the “killing of a human being.”
The doctor landed himself in hot water with the HPCSA and two military hospitals, where he practised as medical intern two years ago for, among others, accentuating his personal or religious beliefs over the patient’s rights, and disrespecting his patient’s choices regarding her autonomy.
The doctor in question was brought up on four charges, including allegations that he was guilty of unprofessional conduct in that during 2015 he distributed pamphlets at his work imposing his religious beliefs and values on members of the public, his colleagues and patients, and that he attempted to influence his colleagues to adopt his opinions by sending them text messages.
The HPCSA also stated that the doctor failed/neglected to remain objective when advocating for the use of contraceptives.
There are two significant problems within the anti-abortion movement to which this doctor belongs, which is why I strongly disagree with calling him “pro-life.”
The first is that the movement is not doing much to provide resources or support for mothers and infants after birth — as if they only care about the foetus before it is born.
The second major issue is that much of the community is host to a negative and toxic attitude toward women.
What anti-choicers actually want is to control women.
They want to control women’s bodies.
They want to control women’s sexuality.
They see abortion as a method of birth control, as an easy out for women whoring around and carelessly getting pregnant at every turn.
Women do not frivolously have abortions.
They do not figure, “Why not have unprotected sex? Who cares if I get pregnant? I can always just pop on over to the clinic and have a painful, expensive procedure that will leave me cramping and aching and sore and bleeding for days to come.”
And how do you explain the women who are anti-choicers?
That’s easy.
Brainwashing.
It is a powerful tool.
It is a tool passed down generation to generation.
The lies are set in place.
God’s law is law.
Abortion kills beautiful little full term babies.
A baby born as a result of a rape or a case of incest is a good thing coming out of something bad.
The abortion battle is not about abortion.
It never was.
The abortion battle is about reminding women of their place.
The abortion battle is about controlling women and their bodies and sexuality.
The abortion battle is about continuing the nauseating “boys will be boys” mentality that will forever mean they need mommy to clean up their messes.
They need women to be chaste because it suits the story they have created for themselves.
Wherever you stand on the abortion-issue, whether you believe it to be morally correct or incorrect, judging women (and mothers) for their choices seems to be the flavour of the century.
Instead of offering help to desperate mothers, we’re quick to condemn them.
But that’s about to change.
In September of this year, the South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) Witbank and New Life Church launched their ‘Baby Safe Box’ at New Life Church’s premises in Mandela Street.
Abandoned babies are quickly becoming a plague on eMalahleni, with a new discovery being made almost weekly.
The ‘Baby Safe Box’ will allow mothers to leave their unwanted babies somewhere safe, where they will be found and taken care of – giving them an alternative to abandoning the infant at the side of the road (this often leading to the infant’s death).
When it comes to welfare, sometimes you have to walk the talk.
It’s easy to preach from your high tower without actually doing anything to help those who you are preaching down to.
Anxiously yours,
Aimee
