Give docs nod!

Executive director of the Barbados Family Planning Association George Griffith. (FP)

By Dawne Parris | Sat, August 18, 2012 - 12:09 AM

Doctors should be allowed to perform abortions on underage girls once their parents give them the go-ahead, says executive director of the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA), George Griffith.

And he’s calling for the reform of “archaic legislation” to make it possible.

Insisting that he has no apologies to make for his position, Griffith stressed yesterday that “in no circumstances should a 12-year-old or an 11-year-old be permitted to carry a pregnancy to full term”.

His call follows two recent incidents in the region – one in which award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Lloyd Goldson was arrested in Jamaica and faces the possibility of life in prison after performing an abortion on a 12-year-old last month, with her mother’s permission.

In Trinidad and Tobago there is also controversy over whether an 11-year-old who was raped and impregnated by her father should be allowed to end the pregnancy.

Please read the full story in today’s SATURDAY SUN, or in the eNATION edition.

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Posted by Frank Husbands 10 months ago: Wow !!

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Posted by Francis Blackman 10 months ago: Mr Griffith's suggestion makes sense! It is so rational that it is unlikely to receive the public attention of those who are most able to effect such an advance. Casualty at the QEH was a place where one met young, recently pregnant and septic women who were victims of various implements and potions applied in diverse environments. Unable to walk away from their pregnant state they made their only available desperate choice. I do not recall ever meeting the impregnator of any of these women and girls some of whom died, were made sterile or suffered needlessly from predictably septic abortions. Dr Goldson's dilemma is one faced by many whom offer services to the public. To do or not to do? The villification of pregnancy termination is pursued far more enthusiastically than are verifiably unnecessary procedures, ineffective pharmaceuticals and unavailable care all of which are causes of death and suffering. Dr Goldson's persecution is the reflection of attitudes which are embedded in the same philosophies that supported and profited from slavery over centuries and have never found the guts for apology to this day. Mr Griffith's call is clearly based on current information and his tenor is admirable. Lloyd's persecution and prosecution does not qualify for either of these descriptions. It's an urgent call for a changes in archaic laws. What are the choices of a pregnant pre-teen?

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Posted by Reginald Crichlow 10 months ago: Are we to throw out the legislation just because it's 'archaic'?
Are we making laws for the exceptional occurrences?
Are we assuming that we, human beings, cannot exhibit any sense of morals and self-control and therefore underage children will always be impregnated and abused by 'reprobate' adults?
By the way, isn't there a law against abusing underage children already?

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Posted by Bim Bum 10 months ago: YES we are to throw out legislation "just because it's archaic"
-in fact precisely because it's archaic!
There are several such laws that must be repealed.
That's why we have a REPEAL process.

It's a bit like going through one's medicine cabinet annually and throwing out expired medicines, precisely because they are archaic!

Laws are invented by man, they suit a purpose,
so long as they suit that purpose.
Once said purpose becomes moot or outdated
laws need to be updated.
Don't be a slave to Old Things.

Under zero circumstances
should any 12-year-old or an 11-year-old be permitted to carry a pregnancy to full term!
You are sentencing the pregnant child to a life she is entirely un-suited for
-a disaster in the making, almost
(unless she has a VERY supportive family, and even so!)

Change the law immediately, if not sooner!
Get with the programme, as they say!