Disappointment at Medical Abortion Decision

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Disappointment at News of FP Decision on Early Medical Abortions

As ALRANZ said in a media release issued yesterday (17 Feb, 2011), we’re really disappointed at the decision by Family Planning to withdraw its application to provide early medical abortions at its clinics.

According to Radio New Zealand, FP’s application was challenged because “it did not have a Government contract to provide the service, having been unsuccessful in competing for a Waikato District Health Board tender.”

We’ve been strongly supporting the initiative since it was announced nearly two years ago, in March 2009. And, yes, we’re concerned it took so long to resolve.

Rather than reprise it all in this post, here’s a very brief recap, with links to some of our posts and media releases on this issue over the past two years, as well as, toward the end, links to some of the anti-choice reaction to the issue, via statements on Scoop.co.nz.

As we argued back then, Family Planning's intitiative would not only make abortion safer (earlier = safer), but it would ease some of the access problems many women face, particularly those who don’t live in the main centres.

There was a sustained campaign by anti-choice groups, which we argued included the spreading of dangerous misinformation and a U.S.-style campaign targeting Family Planning.

Right to Life, which appears to have broken the news, together with Family First and the student group ProLife NZ were, of course, thrilled.

As RTL’s statement points out, it was also threatening court action over Family Planning’s application and as readers of this blog know, is already engaged in a now 6-year-long case aimed at restricting – or ideally banning altogether – abortion in New Zealand. A ruling in that case is expected at any time.

All of which adds up to several good reasons to attend the pro-choice hui being planned for 12-13 March in Wellington.

 

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