Page A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 19, 1993

Pro-life group

TERRACE — Females consid- ering abortion should first be given information on possible complications, says the local pro- life education group.

It lt be asking Mills Memorial Hospital to bring in such a policy,

The request will be made at the May 27 meeting.of the Terrace Regional Health Care Society (which governs the hospital) and be backed up by a petition.

“We are on the agenda and we are drawing up supporting docu- ments for the hospital board,’ said Tervace Pro. Life Education Association president Darryl Anaka.

The term being used by the as- sociation is informed consent. It’s defined in this circumstance as a person receiving information on the physical and emotional risks of abortion and available alterna- tives,

Informed consent is defined in medical practice as a patient receiving all information about a medical procedure so he or she can make @ decision. And, the physician has to be assured the person has the capability to make a decision.

Informed consent is required by the national body that provides

physicians with liability insuz-

ance,

The pro life group’s request arises from one of three recom- mendations .contained in the coroner’s inquiry into the 1991 death of Myrna George.

Admitted to Mills Memorial Hospital for an abortion, George later died in ‘Vancouver after post-procedures complications set

in,

Her death is now the subject of a lawsuit filed against two physicians involved in George’s care during her time at Mills.

The coroner’s recommendation, sent to health minister Elizabeth Cull, called for “tall prospective patients for therapeutic abortions be apprised, in writing, of all pos- sible complications that could result from: the abortion proce- dure,”?

Health care society spokesman Michael Leisinger said the health care society is aware of the pro life association’s pending request.

Although the recommendalion was intended for the health minis- try, Leisinger said the society and the. Mills medical advisory com- mittee also considered it,

“The advisory . committee recommendation, and one the society accepted, was that. in- farmed consent is a matter be- tween the patient and the physician, starting with the gener- al practioner and then to a specialist after that if the patient is referred,’ Leisinger continued.

He said the hospital assumes and presumes physicians do prac- tice informed cousent with people being admitted to the hospital.

“That should take place way back in the doctor’s office. By the lime a patient is here he or she has already made up their mind, Our job is to provide the most ef- fective and safe conditions we can possibly can from our slaff and facilities,”’ said Leisinger.

‘He added that the hospital does carry out informed consent when it comes to services it provides.

Teachers gain class size limits -

TERRACE — Teachers have voted 96 per cent to ratify a new contract with the school district giving them a 4.3 per cent salary increase over two years.

' The. deal reached in the early

moming hours last Wednesday -

as ratified by teachers in-Ter-

Such assessments would have’ to be carried out within 30 days.

“It’s an awful. loi better than what we had but it’s not going to be adequate for any length of time,’’ Lambright said.

The two sides agreed to the same Class size clause as the Pre-

‘ace Thursday and: by teachers in vi rea

The key area of. conflict in the ‘hegotiations was ‘mainstreaming —— the integration of handicapped students into regular classes.

’ Teachers sought strict limits on the number of handicapped chil- dren that could be put in a class. ’“The entire-deal hinged on inainstreaming,’? Terrace District Teachers’ Union president Cathy ‘Lambright said. ‘We're still not 100 per cent convinced the board couldn't ‘afford to do more. But the.only way we could have real- ly. made’ our. point would have ‘been to go on strike.”

. The union decided any further gaits that could be made with a strike were not worth the costs to ‘all teachers and the disruptions to students of going out.

“Tt’s really stressful to teachers fo have to make that decisison,”’ She said.

There are now class size limits

-when it comes: to students with -

more severe handicaps and those with leas severe ONES, “No more than bvo children with ‘severe handicaps are allowed in each class under the new contract.

If there are. two: severely hand- icapped_ students. in a.class, the ‘so-called ‘fudge’ factor — which allows the school district to ex- ceed class sizes by 10 per cent — does not apply.

- Overall, there is now a limit of three handicapped students in any class. Students with severe hand-

icaps are. called: high incidence.

while those with less severe anes are called low incidence. |” “High ~ incidence students weren’t even recogtized in our contract before,’’ Lambright said, Another .major sticking point was the process for identifying ‘handicapped students.

- Schoo) district officials wanted.

# veto power over recommenda-

tions by a school panel that a stu." a

‘dent be assesséd.”?

A compromise was reached re: quiring the school district to give - written reasons for rejecting an. assessment -recommendation. «JE « [> the unlon disagrees, -the dispute

wiil be arbitrated within 10 days. -

- SHOPPERS DRUG MART

- ,. CORRECTION .

~ Re: May Circular Vol. 26 No, 20 -

- The New Edge Soothing After. Shave. ‘ney not be avallable at all locations due to the manufacturer's Inability to supply, The L'Oreal Avantaga Parm should read.

. LOrwal Avantage Halr Colour,

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MAUREEN GEORGE was one of 175 people taking part in the Chair of Life May 8. It was organized by the local pro-life group in opposition to abortion. She's the mother of Myrna George who died as a result of complications from an abortion done at Mills Memorial Hospital in 1991. In the baby carriage is Tristan, one of Myrna’s two children, The George family he has filed a suit in con- nection with Myrna’s death. ;

| SKEENA REFORM PARTY CANDIDATE

NO NEW TAXES!

| CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING!

Who Are YOU Voting. For?

FOR INFORMATION ON REFORM PARTY POLICY PHONE ME, MIKE SCOTT §32-7904

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TRAVEL BC||

With The Merchants At The Skeena =a

_ Terrace, BC

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| > EVEL LAS URNAAAATAAT AR CRRA

Win A A Trip For Two To—

VICTORIA

Enter Your Name At Any _ Merchant At The Skeena Mall. ‘Draw Date: May ue

~ Watch For The BC Parks Display” ; 5 Coming Soon To The Mall .

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We apologize for any Incsnenience a eae

22/93

"

Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital _ Foundation 4720 Haugland Ave., Terrace, B.C. VBG 2W7

BA thoughtful way to remember Is with an In Memoriam gift to the ‘Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation. Donations are @ gratefully accepted at the above address, the Terrace Fire . Dept. on Eby Steet or please contact Helene McRae at B 635-5320, Income tax raceipts are available, .

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Smelter tours start June 1

Alcan’s 1993 Summer Tour Program at Kitimat Works runs from June 1to August 31. The one hour, 15 minute tour will be available twice daily, Monday to Friday, at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended.

From September 1 to May 31, tours are available by reservation

B,C,'s largest export industries in action at Kitimat Works.

Sorry, tours are not available on weekends and ‘statutory holi- days.

‘For reservation information, contact: Alcan Smelter Tours, -| Box 1800, Kitimat, B.C., V8C 2H2. Phone (604) 639-8259,

| Alcan Smelters and Chemicals Ltd

only, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 1:15 p.m. Come visit one of.

: ., ALCAN! ‘

Thinking about going back to work? Feeling like your goals are out of reach? We can help you bridge the gap.

The Terrace Women’s Resource Centre is offering a 12 week course for women to explore career options and develop skills. You don’t need to be eligible for Unemployment Insurance or Social Assistance.

The course starts June 14. Assistance with child care is available.

Those interested are invited to attend an information session:

Thursday, May 20 or Wednesday, May 26 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. — 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

at the Terrace Women’s Resource Centre 1 {R&S 4542 Park Ave., Terrace, BC cS

For information on the Bridging Program contact Melissa or Gayle at ai are 638-0228

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