by Ken Orr, Right to Life NZ
Why is the Abortion Law Reform Association [ALRANZ] conducting a campaign of misinformation concerning the naming of the abortionist and staff at the new secret abortion facility at the Southland Hospital? The real reason is to distract attention away from the violence inflicted on women and the killing of innocent and defenceless unborn children at the Southland Hospital.
ALRANZ supports the killing of unborn children and alleges that the organisation Southlanders for Life seeks to name and shame the abortionist and midwives who assist in abortions at the Southland Hospital. This is patently false. Southlanders for Life have never stated that this is their intention in seeking the names of those involved.
It is understandable that the doctor or doctors performing abortions at the secret abortion facility should be concerned that their names were known to the public, as it could seriously affect their income. Likewise midwives assisting with abortions would be fearful of their names being known to the public as it would result in many women seeking care during their pregnancy to choose another midwife, one who respects and protects the life and wellbeing of the unborn child.
It is not in the public interest that the Southern District Health Board should conspire with the staff involved in the killing of unborn children to withhold their identity from the public in order to protect their reputations and their income from the practice of medicine. The Board should acknowledge that there is no place for secrecy in the public health sector, and release the names of those concerned.
Southlanders for Life have courageously come together to protect the women of Southland and their precious unborn from the violence of abortion. They believe that abortion is not a health service and that it has no place in the Southland Hospital. Southlanders for Life are members of the growing worldwide pro-life movement, which is committed to non-violence and peaceful lawful protest for human rights of all citizens born and unborn. It is the most peaceful and law abiding human rights movement in New Zealand.
Southlanders for Life believe that they have a right to know the names of the staff concerned in the killing of the unborn at the Southland Hospital. The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights state in Right 7, Right to Make an Informed Choice Give Informed Consent. [8] reads, “every consumer has the right to express a preference as to who will provide services and have that preference met where practicable.” The public have a right to refuse services from a doctor or midwife who is involved in the killing of unborn children and they should not be required to ask them.
Right to Life encourages health consumers to choose to seek care only from doctors and midwives who respect the right to life of the unborn and are not involved in their killing. To exercise that right, health consumers need to have the names of those involved in performing abortions.
Right to Life is disappointed that Labour MP Maryan Street, in a media release on behalf of the Labour Women’s caucus has been influenced by the false information put out by ALRANZ concerning staff working at the Southland abortion facility. The caucus would be serving the interest of women, if they spoke up in defence of the plight of vulnerable women who are too often misinformed, exploited and abandoned by those who should care for them in a positive life affirming manner.
Right to Life is also disappointed at the media release of the Green Party women’s affairs caucus released by Metiria Turei. They too, are supporting the misinformation campaign of ALRANZ . That the Green Party are so concerned about the right to life of snails at the Stockton mine and Hector dolphin on the West Coast and yet fully support the right to kill unborn children in their mother’s wombs is oddly inconsistent and indefensible. It is also a disappointment that Metiria Turei has refused a request from Right to Life to withdraw her false statements.