Opinion: Quote of the Week #12

WORDS BY SANDRA BUOL

“The creation of safe zones outside clinic entrances is vital to counter the aggressive and intimidating tactics used by anti-abortionists. No one should have to suffer the forceful, intrusive questioning of their medical treatment from a stranger in the street under any circumstances. The right to access health services safely and privately is fundamental to our society.”
 
Paul Nattrass, Practice Manager at The Private Clinic, 16/5/2018
 
 
What goes on in the mind of a person who thinks it’s okay to harass someone who’s on the way to seek medical treatment? How delusional does anyone have to be to think it’s their business to interfere with someone else’s deeply personal issue? Not just to hand them pamphlets, but to physically block their way, to photograph or film them, to call them murderers?
 
But then I also find it unbelievable that abortion is still a criminal offence in New South Wales and Queensland, despite the loopholes that exist. And I can’t believe that those loophole abortions need to be performed in a specific clinic instead of the hospital – I imagine the “protesting” crowd would quickly be dismantled in front of a hospital.
 
This week the State Parliament will discuss a private member’s bill that would make it illegal to protest within 150 metres of the clinics. Let’s hope the majority of the NSW parliament doesn’t suffer of the same god-complex as those pro-lifers. It’s 2018 after all.

Pulp Editors