If you think the cultural debate over abortion is limited to the public policy arena, consider the latest study to claim that abortion poses no threat to women. This Los Angeles Times headline, Scientists: No link between abortion, mental health, might lead one to believe that having an abortion is akin to having your wisdom teeth pulled: A purely physical procedure with no impact on your mental health or psychological well-being.
The study examined the mental disorder history of Danish women who had a first-trimester abortion or a first live birth during a 12 year period. The measure for "mental disorder" was a "first-time psychiatric contact" with one of Denmark's public inpatient or outpatient psychiatric facilities. The study found "no overall increased risk of mental disorders after first-trimester induced abortion."
Now, Danish women may be more inclined to access government-run psychiatric services than those in other countries, making the measure of "first-time psychiatric contact" an appropriate one for that population. Nonetheless, there are a number of other studies finding emotional and psychological complications after abortion – short of going to a psychiatric hospital. These include depression, substance abuse and thoughts of suicide.
If pulling your wisdom teeth carried with it even a chance of psychological risk, the dental patient should know that risk. Why does abortion continue to get a pass when it comes to informing women of the risks they face? The political protection of abortion is so important that it trumps informed consent, and the risks to women continue to get lost in the spin.
Contact: Carrie Gordon Earll
Source: Citizenlink
