For those who’ve been following the debate, here’s the update: Quebec retreats on plans to tighten abortion rules.
Quebec’s Health Minister is under fire for a proposal to tighten rules for private abortion clinics, forcing him to retreat on the politically volatile issue amid calls for his resignation.
Clinics threatened to close and others protested after Quebec said it would impose stringent new guidelines on them.
The guidelines, contained in a new law, would subject the private abortion clinics to the same standards as clinics that perform procedures such as cataract or hip-replacement surgery. Critics say the move would be costly and create a less welcoming environment for patients.
But of course. Abortion is an essential health service, they say. Just not one that requires the same kind of stringent rules as, say, health clinics that remove bits of unwanted tissue from some people’s eyes. It’s all perfectly clear.
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This really does show up the double standard that rules when it comes to abortion. Health professionals have been making up excuses for the legitimacy of abortion for years. It is time to call them on this and enforce the rules that cover all clinics.
I’d just like to remind you that unless you have detailed training in how to perform an abortion, you’re not really qualified to say what safety standards are required. Nor am I.
One doesn’t need medical training in providing abortions to comment on a very obvious double standard, which is the main point here.
I’m with Andrea – and I’m an expert at spotting political double standards.
And another thing: while I admit to not having the medical training required to offer a professional opinion on the necessity of particular safety standards, I would like to point out that neither are those who claim it’s unfair to demand abortion clinics respect safety rules that apply to other private surgery clinics.