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Women reveal the untold consequences of abortion


A group of MPs and Peers heard last night from women who had undergone abortions, about the adverse effects they had faced following the procedure. Also present were international academics who gave presentations on the links between abortion and Breast Cancer risk. The hearing took place as the fortieth anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act approaches on Saturday, which is to be marked by a march from Parliament to Westminster Cathedral. The All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group heard accounts from three women who were determined to speak out against the lack of information given to them about the procedure and of the traumatic recovery which was brought about through counselling services, offered by pro-life organisations such as LIFE and CARE. One woman, who had an abortion at 17, spoke emotionally about her decision and the trauma and guilt that she felt afterwards. Describing the need she felt to grieve of her loss, she said: "I no longer feel alone because of the counselling I received. Please give women the choice to access counselling." She continued: "Women celebrate choice but from my experience the choice of [abortion] is cheap: cheap for the Government, it cheapens the lives that we hold in our wombs and we are cheating ourselves as women if we think the current abortion system is adequate." Patricia Casey, Professor of Psychiatry at University College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist, presented evidence, which she asserted, showed conclusively a causal link between psychological conditions such as depression. Last week Prof Casey had presented research to the Science and Technology Committee, which is conducting a review of abortion law in respect of scientific advances. Her submission included reference to the ground-breaking Fergusson Study, conducted in New Zealand, which confirmed that young women who have abortions subsequently experience elevated rates of suicidal behaviours, depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and other mental problems. The Group also heard about the increased risk of breast cancer to women who had had an abortion from Prof Joel Brind. He said: "We have known about the link between abortion and breast cancer for 50 years but studies which show the link have been ignored." Jim Dobbin, Chair of the Group, said: "I hope that the evidence we took will be noted by Parliamentarians as we come to review the abortion legislation 40 years on. There is a possibility that the law may be amended within the scope of the forthcoming Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, which we expect to be included in the Queen's Speech. The moving testimonies and thorough research we have heard, present a conclusive case for Parliament to reconsider the abortion law because of the psychological and physical effects to women." Source: Samuel Burke, Parliamentary Assistant to Lord Alton

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