Thursday 6 March 2014

Don't Want an Abortion? Don't Go to a Crisis Pregnancy Centre

On Twitter yesterday National Network of Abortion Funds posted a link to an excerpt from a book by heroic USian abortion provider Susan Wicklund.

I had a patient in the clinic who really did not want an abortion but who had no resources to cover the costs of prenatal care or childbirth. She was single and without insurance coverage but made just enough money to be ineligible for state assistance. She already had outstanding bills at the hospital and with the local ob-gyn practice. No doctor would see her without payment up front.

We were willing to do the abortion for a reduced rate or for free if necessary. But she really didn’t want an abortion. Once I understood her situation, I went to the phone and called the local ‘crisis pregnancy center [CPC].’

"Hello, this is Dr. Wicklund."

Dead silence. I might as well have said I was Satan.

"Hello?" I said again. "This is Dr. Wicklund."

"Hello," very tentatively, followed by another long silence.

"I need help with a patient," I said. She came to me for an abortion, but really doesn’t want one. What she really needs is someone to do her prenatal care and birth for free."

"What do you expect us to do?"

I let that hang for a minute.

-- This Common Secret, Susan Wicklund

Now if that woman didn't qualify as "abortion vulnerable," I don't know who might.

But here's former CPC volunteer Rosa explaining how fake clinics work.
Our task in greeting new clients was to determine, on a scale from 1-10, how "abortion vulnerable" the woman is. That is, is she considering abortion, or did she come here because she's already chosen life and wants help with the new baby? If a woman was deemed not abortion vulnerable at all, they were often given nothing more than an opportunity to volunteer at the CPC itself, on top of whatever real job they actually had. They were paid in diapers, wet wipes, formula, some second-hand clothing. Nothing substantial. Certainly no prenatal care or anything like that. The abortion vulnerable women, however, they were offered the lot. High chairs, cribs, brand new clothing, even financial assistance for prenatal and pediatric care in rare cases! Doesn't that seem backwards? There are women who wanted to just have the abortion and be done with it, pay their $400 or whatever it is, and leave it behind. But they were getting what women who were struggling to make their choices should have had. I had many conversations with God about this, and with each one I became more convinced that what I was doing was not God's work at all.
So pro-lifey.

UPDATED (March 12/14): The ending of the story, thanks to @ClinicEscort.



12 comments:

Alison said...

Thundering great post!

karen said...

You know, that just makes me sick to my stomach. What are they really trying to accomplish? It's just so inexplicable to me.

Beijing York said...

I am sure that there are some people who are against abortion and euthanasia because of a profound belief in the sanctity of life but those politically active in controlling women's reproductive health are hypocritical crusaders who have no concept of human compassion. Their concern with protection of "life" is a sham and an exercise in gaining political control to enforce a biblical-based governance structure - one that may be little when it comes to the economic sphere but plenty big on controlling individual behaviour.

deBeauxOs said...

Love the update!

Is that a first, for anti-choice? Someone who actually had to live up to his putative *prolife* goals, by walking the walk and putting birth support where his habitual hypocrite flapping mouth is?

fern hill said...

Not that it shut his habitual hypocritical flapping mouth, but still. . .

Dunno if that's a first, but surely it's rare. Good on Dr Wicklund for forcing his hand.

Anonymous said...

off topic but can anyone help me here, or at least go answer this guy and set him straight...

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/03/11/yes-there-are-pro-life-atheists-out-there-heres-why-im-one-of-them/#comment-1283404555

I recall that DJ had some articles on this, but I have no idea how to find them, or to present a coherent argument to demonstrate that no, Canadians are not 'murdering' 32 week fetuses for recreation.

fern hill said...

Here is Anonymous's "murdering" link.

Yes, we did cover this. Check this space in a while.

fern hill said...

Here you go, Anonymous, from Feb. last year. Lots of good links here.

Shorter: Amateur statistics and wishful thinking.

Anonymous said...

Thanks!

-King Rat (my nym on patheos)

Anonymous said...

Thanks again, and DJ now has two shoutouts - one on Love Joy Feminism, one on TFA - and hopefully some new readers.

-King Rat

fern hill said...

Thank you. Glad to help. What is TFA?

Anonymous said...

The Friendly Atheist - in my link

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