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News Release
Medical Reform urges Peterson
to establish abortion clinics
February 12, 1988
The Medical Reform Group of Ontario today urged the Government of
Ontario to establish free-standing clinics in which women could
receive high-quality, compassionate care regarding unplanned pregnancy.
Dr. Mimi Divinsky, a Toronto general practitioner, said that the
recent supreme court decision could be a hollow victory for Ontario
women if the government does not fund free-standing facilities.
The Supreme Court clearly said that abortion was a medical procedure
and that the decision should be left to a women and her physician.
Therefore, abortion services should be as available as any other
medical services.
The Ontario government has said that it will pay the OHIP physician
fee for abortions performed outside of hospital but they have not
yet decided whether to pay for a clinic's overhead (such as equipment,
support staff and rent). Dr. Divinsky said that it did not make
sense to pay for an overnight hospital stay, an operating room,
and all the additional costs of hospital care when the total costs
would be much lower in a clinic. She noted that the Powell Report,
commissioned by the Ministry of Health and submitted in January,
1987, said that existing services are costly but provide inadequate
counselling and support. Dr. Divinsky said that women must have
compassionate counselling to assist them in making their own decision
about an unwanted pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, existing
clinics do not 'pressure' a woman to have an abortion, but rather
help her to make her own choice. The Powell Report also said that
abortions could be safely performed outside of hospital and recommended
the establishment of a network of women's health centres.
Dr. Divinsky said that the Peterson Government had won a large majority
partly because of their move to improve accessibility to medical
services. She said that it would be hypocritical and contrary to
the spirit of the supreme court decision to erect artificial barriers
to women receiving this most important health service.
The Medical Reform Group represents 200 Ontario doctors.
For further information contact:
Dr. Mimi Divinsky
Dr. Michael Rachlis
Subject Headings: Abortion
Rights – Community
Health – Community
Health Centres – Drug
Substitution – Epidemiology
– Epidemiology/Community
Medicine – Health
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Care Budgets – Health
Care Cost Containment – Health
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Care in Canada – Health
Care in Ontario – Health
Care in the U.K. – Health
Care in the U.S. – Health
Care Myths – Health
Care Reform – Health
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Health & Safety – Patients'
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– Physician
Compensation – Physician
Human Resources – Pro-Choice
Issues – Public
Health – Publications/Health
– Social
Policy – Women's
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