The deVeber Institute
for Bioethics and Social Research

The deVeber Institute commends Barbara Kay for highlighting the abortion issue that we shouldn't be ignoring in this week's National Post article: 

The Abortion Issue We're Ignoring

Increasing amounts of research, which the deVeber Institute is documenting, is dispelling any doubt that a previous induced abortion increases a woman's risk of having a preterm birth in a subsequent pregnancy.

“The Order of Canada is supposed to recognize the best effort of Canadians, and I don’t believe that Morgentaler’s work represents the best that we have to offer as Canadians and to Canadian women.

The claim is made that this is a reward for improving the health of Canadian women. In fact, those who, like Morgentaler, run abortion clinics are not in a position to make a claim as to the health of women after they leave the clinic. Any health or psychological repercussions are dealt with by emergency departments or psychiatric departments, or other hospitals or doctors, but never do women return with their problems to the clinics. Clinics, in fact, have no idea as to the condition of women after the abortion.”

Since the decision of the Selection Committee was not unanimous, and since most Canadians disagreed with the decision ( 92% of 300,000 people polled by the Globe and Mail), it appears that the Order has been used as a pro-choice political tool, rather than representing a popular choice of Canadians.

Although Dr.Morgentaler may have prevented some illegal abortions, and relieved some stress with unwanted pregnancies, the increasing number of scientific reports of problems with small premature babies, sterility, prolonged psychological damage and increased suicides indicates significant post-abortion problems in women.

L.L.deVeber M.D.
London Free Press, July 7, 2008.