Should Anti-Abortionists Be Allowed To Protest Outside Clinics?

[sp1814]

It’s an emotive subject, but if women/couples are being guilted out of attending appointments, surely it’s no more than a Pyrrhic victory?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/abortion-uk-protests-government-urged-change-laws-clinics-vigils-a7984601.html

Perhaps there should be an exclusion zone around clinics, so that patients could come and go without feeling harassed?

[jim360]

I don't know if the right to protest is in dispute, but there's clearly a difference between a generic march in the streets and a deliberate targeting of abortion clinics or hospitals in order to harass and badger any woman brave enough to try and use them. That crosses the line of protest and leaves it far, far behind.

[woofgang]

I don't think they are bigoted because of their beliefs, I think they are bigoted because of their behaviour.

[Spicerack]

Brave, Jim?

[Mamyalynne]

They should stand quietly in protest, not surround patients entering a building for a procedure.

[jim360]

In the circumstances where you have to walk past people busy judging you, then yes -- brave pretty much covers it.

[Mamyalynne]

An abortion if you prefer the actual word , don't be ludicrous.

[EcclesCake]

Jim, the person I refracted had three abortions before she s 21. She was a posh gal whose father owned what was left after the the Queen and Bernard Matthews had.

I rarely speak ill of people but she was a trashy trollop and deserved any consequences she faced.

[douglas9401]

"'a procedure'? Why do pro Abortionists use those sorts of words..."

For the same reason as godbotherers say 'is now with Christ' or 'with the angels' even 'gone to his final rest'

It's a slight softening of the truth, happens every day in life in many different circumstances.

[jim360]

Well, I am sure there are exceptions to every rule. I can't say it changes much. Women like that don't take away the right to an abortion without fear of intimidation from women not like that.

[Prudie]

Abortion is also the correct medical name for a miscarriage and that doesn't involve chopping up anything. Unless you've been in their shoes no-one has the right to be so judgemental.

[vetuste_ennemi]

The "pro-Lifers" view abortion as murder. If they're RCs like Rees-Mogg then they'll believe that a new human life (soul?) starts at the moment of conception, so abortion at any stage of pregnancy is murder. Do those of you who are "pro-Choice" think there is a point within a pregnancy at which abortion becomes immoral?

[ummmm]

I was going to say the same as Prudie. Miscarriage is called abortion, or natural abortion so calling an elected abortion a procedure sounds about right.

[ummmm]

Yes...I think the limit should be lowered. I'm pro choice.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't believe I have called anyone a name but to sidetrack a serious thread over the use of the word procedure which covers many operations etc seemed rather pointless to me.

I apologise for the word 'ludicrous'.

I am neither pro nor anti abortion so please don't presume - still you gave Douglas something to work with.

[jim360]

I would suggest that it becomes immoral at the point where the foetus is capable of surviving outside the womb.

[Prudie]

Problem is with advances in care that time is getting shorter, I certainly think the current UK limit of 24 weeks should be considerably lowered.