In a recent draft of instructions on how to handle women considering an abortion, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has changed their tone, quite a bit, and psychologists and Pro-Life organizations aren't happy.
The royal college's newest piece of advice is to tell women on the fence that an abortion is much safer than carrying a baby to term, and delivering. And that they'll suffer no psychological harm.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Prof. Patricia Casey, a member of the Royal College of Psychiatry, said, “The message this sends out is very worrying. There are more than 30 studies showing an association between psychological trauma and abortion.”
While there isn't currently proof that abortions cause psychological trauma, study after study shows women are more likely to wrestle with thoughts of suicide and self-harm after an abortion.
Josephine Quintavalle, of the Pro-Life Alliance, says she thinks the royal college is manipulating the results of their studies. "I don't believe that most women considering abortions are worried it will kill them or are worrying about dying in childbirth; this is a blatant attempt to force an absurdly liberal agenda on women when they are at their most vulnerable.”
Political agenda or not, no one's denying the claim that abortions are safer than carrying and delivering a baby. They're just not convinced doctors and nurses should be swaying the vote, no matter which direction it goes.