Shame on all Abortion Supervisory Committee Members: NZ’s Abortion Rate worst in Western world.

The Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) has the responsibility of keeping under review all the provisions of the abortion law in New Zealand, and the operation and effect of those provisions in practice. This includes licensing institutions for the performance of abortions and appointment of certifying consultants to consider cases. In 2007 it cost New Zealand taxpayers about 5.5 million dollars to fund fees paid to certifying consultants who authorised 18,389 abortions in 2007 – up 2.5% from 2006 figures – an appalling rate of abortion that is now the highest in the Western world. The recent Judgment of Justice Forrest Miller, in a case brought by Right-to-Life against the ASC – has cast doubt on the lawfulness of many of these abortions. All ASC members should hang their heads in shame and should be dismissed for failing to fulfil their statutory duties.

The ASC consists of three members; two of whom are to be registered medical practitioners. One member is appointed as Chairperson.

Under present law it is not mandatory for certifying consultants even to meet the woman who has requested an abortion. Likewise, there is no legal requirement for the woman to be fully informed of her options in terms of continuing with the pregnancy or moving to abortion.

The ASC operates under the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977. It consists of three members, two of whom are to be registered medical practitioners. One member is appointed as Chairperson. Members are appointed initially for a three year term of office. Professor Linda Holloway, DCNSM of Dunedin, chairperson of the ASC was appointed in June 2007. The other members of the ASC are Dr Rosemary Jane Fenwicke of Wellington and Patricia Ann Allan of Christchurch.

The previous members of the ASC were Dr Lesley Rothwell of Wellington, as chair, Papaarangi Reid of Wellington, and Marlene Lamb JP of Morrinsville.

Background on Current Members

Professor Linda Holloway, who was previously pro vice-chancellor of health sciences at Otago University, was appointed chair of the National Health Committee in 2006, having been a member of it since 2002. She is a specialist anatomical pathologist, and at an earlier stage in her career she also worked in rural general practice. Her major area of research interest has been respiratory pathology. She has served on the Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee, and was one of the advisers to Dame Silvia Cartwright during the inquiry into the treatment of cervical cancer at National Women’s Hospital. She has also been in many areas of community work, including the Lottery Grants Board research distribution committee and the Medical Women’s Association. She is a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, in recognition of her career of dedicated service to health science.

Dr Rosemary Fenwicke is a member of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. She was the medical director of the central region for the New Zealand Family Planning Association from 1987 to 1990. As an on-call doctor for the New Zealand Police and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, she assessed victims of sexual abuse. She was also a medical officer at Victoria University’s Student Health Service. Dr Fenwicke also developed a general practice clinic at Waiwhet? Marae in Lower Hutt. She currently works in general practice in Wellington at the level J terminations clinic at Wellington Women’s Hospital, and she also does independent allowance assessments and rehabilitation assessments for the Accident Compensation Corporation. In 2005-06 she was the national medical officer for the New Zealand Fire Service.

Patricia Allan established her own consultancy business as a facilitator and mentor at the beginning of 2004. For the previous 20 years she had been involved in either church or council-funded social service and in ministry roles in Christchurch and on the West Coast. Before establishing her current business, she worked for the Methodist Church’s Christchurch inner-city ministry, and had previously served as the vicar of Hokitika and as diocesan mission coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch. She has held a number of governance roles in the Methodist and Anglican churches, including as an elected member of the standing committee of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of New Zealand, and also as a member of the board of the McLean Institute, a charitable trust. She was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for her community work on the West Coast. Ms Allan completed her registered nursing qualification in 1960 and also holds a licentiate of theology.

http://theyworkforyou.co.nz/appointments/2007/jun/14/abortion_supervisory_committee

The ASC tables an annual report to Parliament. This report contains a summary of the Committee’s activities during the year, together with statistical information relating to the number of abortions performed in the previous calendar year. This statistical information is broken down into such categories as the age of women concerned and the grounds upon which the abortions have been authorised and provides the only reference to the absolute numbers of abortions authorised annually. The Committee releases individual institution figures only in its annual report. Licensees may release their own figures if it is their own administrative policy to do so.

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http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=g-nVAGXWQFs&feature=related