MPs call for informed consent laws

Canada Silent No More is a growing group of women whose lives have been torn apart following an abortion. These courageous women held a rally and press conference in Winnipeg, Man. in conjunction with the national pro-life conference, "Alive and Loving It."

"With one in four pregnancies being aborted, there are potentially millions of silent victims in this country who fear talking about their pain because there are no support systems for women who have been damaged by abortion," said Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus co-chair, Paul Steckle (Huron-Bruce). "It takes tremendous courage to speak out as a victim of abortion, and I commend these women highly."

"There are no specific regulations today in Canada outlining the minimum standard of information and care - let alone the ideal standard - required by doctors who counsel patients about abortion," said PPLC co-chair, Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin). "Also, most researchers refuse to acknowledge the strong correlations between abortion and numerous aspects of psychological and physical harm to the women who have them."

Several American states are legislating Women's Right to Know acts, which stipulate the specific scientific and biological information doctors must provide women to protect themselves from lawsuits for not fully informing their patients. "Canadian women harmed by abortion repeatedly reveal the lack of information they received when counselled on abortion and are calling on governments to introduce informed consent legislation here as well," said Steckle. PPLC member Garry Breitkreuz has been challenging the Canadian Parliament to be forward-thinking on this issue, with his numerous recommendations to study the effects of abortion and to fully inform women considering an abortion. He has already tabled a motion (M-70) in this Parliament, calling for informed consent legislation.

The MPs noted that some of the worst pain caused by abortion is psychological and emotional, but physical damage can also result. The best research has shown a solid correlation between abortion and breast cancer, along with a well-understood mechanism to explain the link, the said. With October being breast cancer month, they said we need to continue to draw attention to this aspect of abortion's harm.

"Canada's social conscience should be big enough to embrace women harmed by abortion," said Vellacott.