For the fœtus, if lay people were to know the details of an induced abortion in a hospital setting, with the gradual dismemberment by suction or by stainless steel instruments, they would know how very cruel it is because early on the embryo becomes a sentient being.

Most male genitors pressurise, coerce, sometimes even blackmail the woman to go in for abortion or abandon her to her fate. However, there are rare cases where he is opposed to abortion and is over-ruled. Is that not doubly cruel ? Sometimes after an abortion, the woman becomes frigid and the couple’s sex life suffers.

As for society, do not be surprised if cases of cruelty to children become more frequent and more brutal or barbaric where abortion is legalised, because people think if killing is allowed, beating up a child should also be allowed. Likewise the general level of violent behaviour would rise.

<B>Schizophrenic</B>

Society is either “schizophrenic” (split-minded) or hypocritical where the death penalty is suspended or abolished for averred criminals whose appeal has been rejected by the highest law courts and yet there is a clamour for the legalisation of abortion.

When a doctor has prescribed to a pregnant woman a medicine which turns out to have harmed her baby, he is liable to prosecution and sanction by the Medical Council; if abortion is legalised, because logically “he who can do more can do less”, would he still be liable?

Why would it also “be interesting to know how many women go for abortion in private clinics or to Reunion Island”? Is everything that the rich can afford good? For example, opium and the like.

Mauritian society seems to be the only one where the word mari is used to mean, very big, huge, extra, super, with other “macho” implications. Women who use it are unconsciously being submissive.

Rape and incest are admittedly too widespread in this country. What is the embryo guilty of? Does killing it cure the woman’s trauma? We can all understand that she is suffering, especially mentally, especially if the mari aggressor or perpetrator is unpunished. If that child were allowed to be born and then adopted by one of those many infertile couples with full knowledge of the circumstances of its coming into existence, the child would make some people happy.

If abortion is legalised, I anticipate cases where a woman with an unwanted pregnancy can accuse (falsely) someone and later pending completion of the inquiry and after the abortion is completed, remove her charge : potential of miscarriage of justice that we should be aware of !

Some organisations are calling for Mauritius to follow the UK and France, which have legalised abortion, painting it as a progressive move. What would have happened if we had followed the UK and fed our cattle with processed mutton, the now abandoned (but too late) practice at the root of its mad cow outbreak.

For the nation, let us not forget that the wealth of a nation lies in its people to work on and develop whatever natural resources there may be. Where abortion is legalised, there is a declining growth rate. Almost all nations are having to face the problems of an ageing population. Some nations are already faced (India and People’s Republic of China) with an excess of boys over girls because female foetuses are selectively aborted. Being of the female sex is turning out to be a fatal handicap!

I feel it is my duty to condemn the wrong, which an induced abortion is, while having sympathy for the women in such a predicament. If I know that the path, which someone intends to take has pitfalls, it would be a dereliction of duty on my part not to forewarn her/him and, if all the same she/he takes that path and breaks a leg, not to attend to the fracture.

The solution to the problems of unwanted pregnancies lies in EDUCATION, not simply the instructions as to the structures and mechanics of the sexual act, but also the emotional aspects, social aspects, etc. of sexuality and the proper exercise of liberty. Liberty, said Lord Acton (of the famous power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely), is not the freedom to do as you choose but the freedom to do what you ought, i.e. your duty, especially duty to the weak, the defenceless.

Dr François IP</B>