One would think that we are heading into Y1K, not 2000 if we were to judge it by stupid decisions such as that discussed below, and while the technology is moving forward at great speed, it seems that human mind is going backward in equal proportion and speed. From: http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/19990609/A45870-1999Jun9.shtml ACT: Push for foetus pictures cannot be enforced - minister Source: AAP | Published: Wednesday June 9 5:44:00 PM Women wanting an abortion in the Act won't have to view pictures of foetuses even if the health minister orders the current text-only pamphlets replaced, his office confirmed today. Under the territory's new abortion law which takes effect on Friday, women seeking termination must receive a medical text approved by an advisory panel of specialists, including obstetricians and a psychiatrist. The panel unanimously rejected an option open to them under the Act, of presenting women with pictures or drawings of anatomical characteristics of foetuses at various stages of gestation as "irrelevant and in some cases.. counterproductive". The original proponent of the law to restrict abortions, independent Paul Osborne, wants women to view pictures in a move described by Labor health spokesman Wayne Berry as "emotional blackmail". A fresh furore over the controversial law erupted today when it was revealed that health minister Michael Moore had written to each member of the legislative assembly seeking advice on whether he should reverse the advisory panel's decision by administrative action. "Obviously the decision of the advisory panel not to approve pictorial materials can be perceived as at odds with the intentions of the Assembly," Mr Moore wrote to members. "It is certainly possible that pictorial material intended by the Assembly can be included in the pamphlet by administrative action. If that were done, the materials would be effectively available as intended, even though their presence would not be strictly required by law." A spokesman for the minister said today that even though Mr Moore personally did not want pictures included, a majority of the assembly - 10 out of 17 members - did want them. If the majority called for administrative action to include them, the pamphlets already printed may have to be pulped so pictures could be included. However, the spokesman said that under the Health Regulation (Maternal Health Information) Act 1998 only the advisory panel had power to make viewing pictures part of requirements for a legal termination, and it had declined to do so. Pamphlets with pictures would not have the force of law. "If a doctor wanted to tear out the legally required text and hand just this to a woman seeking an abortion he could do so," the spokesman said. Act Ama spokesman Professor Peter Herdson said his personal opinion was that it would be "a shame" for politicians to reject the advice of medical specialists on this issue, and that illustration of the text was unnecessary. Act Family Planning executive director Sandra MacKenzie said clients of the service had always been well-informed about the medical risks of termination and pregnancy. She understood the only obligation under the new law was to hand women the text approved by the medical advisory panel. Ms MacKenzie said the worst aspect of the law was the statutory 72 hour "cooling off" period between seeking an abortion and having the operation. "This particularly affects clients who come from country areas such as the South Coast or Wagga, which represents 30 per cent of our clients," she said. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
