12° Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 16, 1986 Letter Legality of abortion outlined To.the editor, In response to a recent letter concerning Section 251 of the Criminal Code of Canada, I wish to in- form your readers that the Criminal Code does not confer the right of women to have an abor- tion nor-any other rights, for that matter. It only describes criminal of- fences and the conse- quences for them. As to the legality of abortion, prior to 1969 all abortions were illegal except when necessary to - preserve the life of the mother. Subsection (1) and (2) of Section 251 state that performing an abortion is a criminal offence. However, in 1969 an amendment to the Criminal Code allowed ‘an abortion by a medical practitioner and approv- ed by an abortion com- mittee in an accredited hospital where ‘‘the con- tinuation of the pregnan- cy would be likely to en- danger the life or health of the mother’’. Hence, under these conditions it would be more accurate to say that abortion has been decriminalized rather than made legal. On May 6, 1969 the then Minister of Justice, the Hon. John Turner - who. presented the Bill. | for this amendment specifically excluded abortion for socio- economic reasons, Un- fortunately for the 850,000 or more helpless babies who have been killed by abortion since 1969, this has not ap- peared to have been the case. Babies, in my opi- nion, are being destroyed for social and economic convenience. According to the government commissed Badgely Report on abor- tion, many doctors ad- mitted that a diagnosis of ‘‘mental health’’ was given to get around the condition in the Criminal Code for having an abor- tion. They said that this diagnosis ‘‘could not be considered as a_ valid assessment of an abor- tion patient's state of mental health’’. The Canadian Physi- cians for Life, an association of over 1500 physicians across Canada, have stated that “it is doubtful: if any abortion is now justified because of the threat to the life or health of the mother. We must inform the public and the legislators that we can no longer be party to a surgical procedure for which no medical indica- tion exists and if they wish to seek solutions to social problems, then these solutions must also be social’. How long must this hideous injustice to our fellow human beings continue? Isn’t it time for all members of socie- ty to work together to show compassion not only for the pregnant woman in need but also for the most innocent and defenseless member of our society, the child living in the womb? . Mr. & Mrs. D, Anaka Terrace, B.C. ® Lab techniclans and technotogists at Mills Memorial Hospital In Terrace are, (left to right), Batty Cobbs, Diane Myhr, Jen- Ft nifer Smith, Alfred Phillips, Joanne Boyd, Edith Barclay, Dr. Alex Enriquez and Mila Sainis. The group has erected displays in the kitchen area of the hospital. _ of work involved as a lab technologist. The display, in racognition of National Medical Lab Week, April 13 to 19, can be seen Danlele Berquist photo National Medical Lab Week celebrated TERRACE — Labora- tory Technologists to- gether with other medical personnel work to provide a high stan- dard of health care. by Daniele Berquist The local laboratory supplies medical infor- mation in many different: clinical situations through its five disci- plines: Biochemistry, ‘Microbiology, Blood Bank, Hematology and Histopathology. These are examples of how the laboratory pro- vides services to the com- munity. — . Your ‘“‘Body Talk’’ is the theme for National Medical Laboratory week being celebrated this week, The technolo- gist’s role is expressed in decoding the complex messages our bodies con- vey in health and diseases. Medical labora- tory technologists con- stitute the third largest group of health care pro- fessionals in Canada. They are required to meet the qualifications of provincial licensing bodies and/or the na- tional examining bodies (The Canadian Society of Laboratory Technolo- gists), The course of study rma, To the editor, 1 would like you to print a correction to the printed version of my let- ter to the editor, in the April 2 edition of your newspaper. In my April 2 letter you added the phrase ‘‘in my opinion’* to my state- ment that: ‘‘Abortion is only necessary as an op- The Results from a Classified Ad are... Something To Crow About 635-4339 tion for women because 100 percent safe and ef- fective birth control does not exist.”? I was most disturbed by the com- ment you added to my next statement, that: “Women do not use abortion as a form of ettex — Opinion clarified birth control, but rather because their birth con- trol method had failed.’’ You mistakenly added the comment ‘‘in most cases’ to this sentence. This edited version would have me saying, in effect that I believe that women do use abortion as a birth control method. I do not believe any such thing. Your ad- ditional phrase changes the whole intent of that section of my letter. Frances Birdsell Terrace, B.C. Terrace represented at health function To the editor, We were delighted to have someone from your area at our recent Branch and Delegates con- ference, at which The Hon. Stephen Rogers was a guest. Letter This was, in fact, Rogers’ first official at- tendance at a major health agency function since he became Minister of Health. Danda Humphreys, Communications Co-ordinator The Arthritis Society B.C. Division offered by university and technological institutes is usually three to five years, depending upon the degree of basic or ad- vanced qualifications sought by the student. Technologists who work in smaller hospitals must be skilled in most areas of laboratory work. Displays of the work involved as a laboratory technologist can be seen on posters in the kitchen area of Mills Memorial Hospital during National Medical Laboratory week from April 13 to 19. Banquet held TERRACE — The Human Service Workers second year class held their graduation banquet. Saturday, April 5 at the Terrace Hotel. by Sherry Halfyard Eight women gradu- ated from the Human Service Workers pro- gram held at North West Community College. In- structors as well as students and their families were present at the dinner. After completion of the second year students have the option of con- tinuing their studies at a University, or working for the Ministry of Human Resources. Other choices for graduating students would be to work with special needs or handi- capped people, said Maggie Wertz, member of the graduation class. One lady from the class will be working as a social worker for a band council in the area, said Wertz. Members of the graduation class are, Maggie Wertz, Gertie Franz, Michele Angell, Louisa Gill, Darlene Ian- none, Margret Kennedy, Amart Pannun and Treasa Kenny. — The instructors for the class are Jake Muller, Jo Patterson and Lynn Hughs.