The raw realities for women
The reversal of Roe V Wade is an extraordinary turnaround. Specific US states are now free to democratically decide their own abortion law. However, women face the challenge of unwanted pregnancy in their huge numbers and we must strive to provide holistic care.
View from the inside
As a doctor, my experiences from within the abortion world are haunting. One patient left a devastating suicide note for his doctors: “She aborted my baby and now I have nothing to live for.”
However, it was the old ladies who were the worst: after decades of silence, Mrs ---- said with anguish in her eyes, “Doctor – can I ever be forgiven for it?”
“For what?” I asked, as she touched my hand while searching my face.
“For the abortion 40 years ago.” Then I saw all her wrinkles unravel in a smile when I replied, “Of course you can be forgiven.” As Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
Roe V Wade realities
The UK, along with North Korea and China, is left in an even smaller club of nations – those allowing abortion, effectively on demand without a reason, up to 24 weeks and later. A Yorkshire woman I knew wanted and got abortion at well over 30 weeks into pregnancy.
We have amazing people serving in health care in Britain. But sadly, termination of pregnancy is the rotten apple in a barrel of sweet apples. Legal abortion in the UK quickly corrupted great British care from 1968 onwards. Then, soon after, Roe v Wade accelerated the corruption of many doctors on both sides of the Atlantic.
As an American professor of gynaecology told me, “I challenged a colleague, ‘You would not do a major operation without giving the patient days to digest all the personal complications. Yet you see a woman with unwanted pregnancy at 12 noon and by lunchtime you have taken her child out of her.’”
Here, from 1968, the British gynaecologists rapidly went beyond the lawful grounds for abortion. And the primary care doctors accelerated this by signing Part 1 of the legal forms on false grounds. I know this first hand – because I did it as a junior GP.
British gynaecologists rapidly went beyond the lawful grounds for abortion.
The form said, “There is substantial risk that the child… would suffer such mental abnormality as to be seriously handicapped.” A senior Christian geneticist advised me to sign. I must hide the details, but we both knew that there was no risk to the child. We had committed perjury.
Afterwards, I brought my shame to the foot of Christ on the cross and repented. Such is the mercy of God that he took me away to a far country – to do what? – newborn intensive care! That’s how gracious our loving heavenly Father is to all who fail in this area. What earthly father would entrust his babies to a known liar and killer? Yes, as Jesus says, “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us.” (1Jn 1:10)
Trust – the torn safety net
My family has been in British healthcare for 90 years. Prior to mass abortion, doctors were trusted because patients knew we were under a strict code of medical ethics – honesty, integrity and the best for the patient. But now we need lessons in self-defence.1
Prior to mass abortion, doctors were trusted because patients knew we were under a strict code of medical ethics – honesty, integrity and the best for the patient. But now we need lessons in self-defence.
Once trust is lost, it takes a generation to be earned again. Patients are slowly getting to know that abortion is not so safe, despite the sales pitch. Let’s look at two examples:
- Most British abortion doctors sign the form on the grounds that the woman’s mental health will be worse if abortion is not done. This has been known to be nonsense since the 1960s. Even pro-abortion experts like Prof David Fergusson urged the New Zealand government to issue public warnings about postabortion depression.2 No wonder abortion kills by suicide.3
- Our Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists wrote a pamphlet for schoolkids, claiming that abortion is no threat to their future fertility.4 Yet future fertility is threatened in several ways; for instance, the conception rates reduced by a shocking 627% after abortion in one study.5 Further fertility threats are here.
Many abortions are done entirely illegally – take the gynaecologists’ letters after a woman’s abortion to her GP. Often I would read that the reason they gave for the termination was “unwanted pregnancy.” No such reason ever existed in British law for a human killing.
This affects you
Because one in three men and women near you use abortion, it is vital that everybody knows the numerous threats to health and life from so called ‘legal’ abortion. You can find these here.
Warnings for Christians to pass on
Even a patient, merciful and forgiving heavenly Father has limits to his patience. “Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming.”6 In the UK there are signs our wonderful National Health Service has now exhausted God’s half-century of patience.
Americans have endured threats and scorn to bring about the reversal of Roe versus Wade. It encourages us that nothing is impossible. Even so, “what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).
Steps we can all take
So, finally, how can we help recreate a working safety net for those facing unwanted pregnancy in a way that serves everyone?
- Nations must repent. Because we destroy between one in four to one in five of our population – which is far worse than Covid – we must repent and plead with God for help and mercy.
- Christians should repent. Repent of our lack of love towards those who wrestle with huge social problems around unplanned pregnancy. Pregnant Christians often reach for abortion out of fear of condemnation.7
- Those in healthcare can reach out to professionals and policy makers and hold them to account – but always without personal judgement. If you lead in healthcare, push for the reform of clinical practice by the abortion establishment – the General Medical Council and the royal colleges in UK. Point them back to historic values on the sanctity of life and decent medical care for both born and unborn.
- Get practical in church. Show love and welcome to all with unwanted pregnancy and their children. Create a small team for pregnancy problems using this handbook on how to counsel unwanted pregnancy.
Encourage your pastor to teach the bible on the value of every life. All are made in the image of God – and that includes your local abortion provider; each one also needs help, just as I did.
Dr M Houghton MB.BS, MRCGP, is co-author with Dr Esther Lüthy and Christine Fidler of Pregnancy and Abortion – A Practical Guide to Making Decisions, Grace and Down Publishing, 2020.
Further Resource - https://www.cbruk.org/churches
Notes
1 https://news.doctors.net.uk, accessed 6-7-22
2 Fergusson et al. 'Does abortion reduce the mental health risks of unwanted or unintended pregnancy? A reappraisal of the evidence' Australian and New Zealand Journal of psychiatry 47 (9) September 2013. Since confirmed by the British Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in 2011. 'Induced Abortion and Mental Health: a systematic review of the evidence – full report and consultation table with responses.'
3 Ibid, and see also page 121, Pregnancy and Abortion Practical Guide to Decision Making
4 Abortion and Abortion Care Fact Sheet. To support relationships and sex education in secondary schools. Endorsed by the Royal College Of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Public Health England et al. Home | RCOG
5 Hassam MAM and Killick SR. Is previous aberrant reproductive outcome predictive of subsequently reduced fecundity? Human Reproduction 2005; 20 (3): 657-64. From Complications: Abortion's Impact on Women, second edition, page 183, deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research.
6 Colossians 3:6
7 https://research.lifeway.com/2021/12/03/7-in-10-women-who-have-had-an-abortion-identify-as-a-christian/ accessed 6-7-22
