This month it was revealed that Quebec sent 30 pregnant mothers whose unborn children were beyond 24 weeks gestation to Wichita, Kansas last year for late-term abortions (at a cost of $5000 US each) at the private clinic of controversial abortionist George Tiller. Not surprisingly, various pro-life organizations spoke out against Quebec’s actions (see statements from Canadian Physicians for Life and the Quebec Catholic Bishops on opposite page.)

But what is surprising is that even renowned abortionist Henry Morgentaler said he has some concerns about late-term abortions. He was quoted on September 11 by the London Free Press as saying, “Around 24 weeks I have ethical problems with doing that.” He went on to say, “What we do at our clinics is if we have a problem like that we usually counsel the woman to continue the pregnancy and put it up for adoption if she is unable to care for it.”

Curious as to what Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada thought of Morgentaler’s remarks, I contacted PPFC’s executive director, Linda Capperauld. I asked if PPFC agreed with Morgentaler that there were ethical problems with abortions around 24 weeks and asked what PPFC’s policy is for counselling women at this late stage of pregnancy. In an email, Ms. Capperauld responded saying, “PPFC’s current position statement on abortion is being reviewed by the PPFC Board of Directors at its October meeting. The new position statement will be available on the PPFC website by the end of October. (www.ppfc.ca)

Interesting.

I also contacted the Canadian Medical Association by email asking for CMA’s position on Morgentaler’s statements. Steve Wharry, Senior Communications Editor, responded by sending me CMA’s policy statement on abortion which appears on CMA’s website. But that statement says nothing about whether CMA believes abortions after fetal viability (which CMA calls “elective terminations of pregnancy,” not “abortions”) are ethical or not, although it does say they should be performed only in “exceptional circumstances.” When I asked Mr. Wharry to clarify CMA’s position, specifically, on Morgentaler’s comments and for examples of “exceptional circumstances,” he replied, “there are no further details concerning the issues you are discussing.”

Morgentaler had also indicated that Quebec wasn’t the only province sending women to the US for late abortions and said Ontario sends about 15 women a year. When I contacted the Ontario Ministry of Health on September 22 to verify this number, I was told by media spokesperson Dan Strasbourg that in the fiscal year 2003-2004, Ontario paid for 56 “out of country” “late term” abortions, where “late-term” is defined by Ontario as after 20 weeks, “out of country” means in the US, and all were deemed “medically necessary.” When I asked what that meant – if the abortions were “necessary” for health reasons or fetal anomalies or what exactly – he said he did not have that information. The total cost to Ontario taxpayers for those 56 late-term abortions—$397,514.00 CDN!

According to British Columbia Ministry of Health spokesperson Lisa Brewster, between April 2002 and March 2003, British Columbia paid for 54 out of country late-term abortions, (at least 20 weeks gestation). The cost she said was approximately $2800 per procedure. All were done in Washington State. The BC Medical Services Plan requires a letter from a referring physician stating that the abortion is “medically necessary” and proof of an ultrasound showing that the gestational age is at least 20 weeks. Otherwise, the abortion is done in BC. - BM