Ted Gerk

Trial of the Century?

"Everywoman's Health Centre was a very disturbing place to work." — Margaret Panton, former director of Everywoman's abortuary in Vancouver.

Ah, abortion politics. Believe me, after being involved in the abortion issue for 15 years, I'm not surprised at anything anymore—especially how the pro-abortion ideology can destroy a person's ability to think clearly.

Take for example a trial taking place in the B.C Supreme Court as I pen these words. Margaret Panton, former head of Vancouver's first abortion clinic, the Everywoman's Health Centre, is suing her former employer for wrongful dismissal.

The goings-on during the trial have opened a goldmine of information on the what's happening inside the abortion industry.

Among the many things revealed under oath: charges and counter-charges of insubordination and work-related stress; a kind of politburo was running the facility; discussions of personnel problems went on in "recovery rooms" with patients present; the relentless pursuit of police officer Steven Parker was led by proud National Abortion Federation member Will Offley; Panton believed the Everywoman's staff were incompetent; and a staff member sent Panton hate mail! (I wonder if that would constitute a violation of B.C.'s bubble zone legislation?)

Safe, legal abortion, eh?

A few years ago, information was leaked to us that the entire board of directors of Everywoman's had resigned. At one point the chairman couldn't even get anyone to run as a director! The rocky period also saw the resignation of one of Everywoman's abortionists.

Two camps

It seems a fight had ensued between two camps. One group wanted Everywoman's to continue its role as a feminist-run facility. The other wanted a "medical model."

The feminists wanted to continue to break new ground, and even go so far as to challenge the right of the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons to regulate it. But eventually Kim Zander and the "medical model" faction won out. The feminist legacy of Everywoman's was downplayed, in order to become more "respectable" in the medical community. The last gasp of B.C.'s feminist movement is taking place before our very eyes.

Meanwhile, I understand that a similar case involving another of Canada's abortion mills will take place this fall. All bets are that it will be of equal interest. Stay tuned!

Which brings me to an important point - pro-lifers should constantly and consistently monitor the courts for abortion-related cases. Whether it's a wrongful dismissal case, or a malpractice suit, you're very likely to find abortion as the subject of some legal action at any given time.

The various provinces handle case reporting differently, but each provincial pro-life group should make it a habit to monitor the court system continuously and creatively.

I say "creatively" because the recent judgment against Henry Morgentaler's Halifax franchise went unnoticed at first, because the suit was filed against staff members, not Morgentaler or the mill itself. The recent furor in Arizona over the attempted abortion of a full-term baby by a doctor, who recently admitted his role in the death of another abortion client in April, is another example.

The state medical board ignored problems with the abortionist in the past. In B.C., there is a similar reluctance on the part of the College of Physicians and Surgeons to investigate matters concerning abortion.

My point is we must scrutinize the scrutinizers. It is we who must monitor the abortion industry, and sound the alarm when they slip up.