Dr. Allmark's assumption that the risk/benefit ratio for
recommending abortion in the first trimester may be met, at least in
regard to the question of physical risks, should be more carefully
examined.
In the only large published record based study of death rates
associated with pregnancy outcome, Gissler and his associates found that
the prevailing opinion that abortion has lower death rates associated
cannot be supported by examination of death certificates.(1,2) This may
not be entirely independent of psychological issues, however, since many
of the additional deaths are associated with suicide, and possibly risk
taking/self-destructive behavior in the case of higher rates of death
related to accidents and homicide.
Concerns about higher rates of breast cancer, pelvic inflammatory
disease, higher rates of subsequent premature deliveries, and other
reproductive health problems must also be weighed in a risk/benefit
analysis.
Those who are seriously interested in conducting a risk/benefit
analysis regarding abortion and childbirth should have reference to the
"Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography"(3). This
book includes over a thousand references related to other physical and
psychological complications of abortion organized into 140 categories.
In my opinion, this reference book belongs in every medical library.
It's available through distributors in England as well as in an electronic
format.
References
(1) Gissler M, Kauppila R, Merilainen J, Toukomaa H, Hemminki E.
Pregnancy-associated deaths in Finland 1987-1994 -- definition problems
and benefits of record linkage. Acta Obset Gynecol Scand 1997;76:651-657.
(2) Gissler M, Hemminki E, Lonnqvist J. Suicides after pregnancy in
Finland: 1987-94: register linkage study. BMJ, 1996; 313: 1431-1434.
(3) Strahan, TW. Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An annotated
bibliography with commentary. Springfield, IL. Acorn Books 1996.
Rapid Response:
Re: Grounds for abortion.
Dr. Allmark's assumption that the risk/benefit ratio for
recommending abortion in the first trimester may be met, at least in
regard to the question of physical risks, should be more carefully
examined.
In the only large published record based study of death rates
associated with pregnancy outcome, Gissler and his associates found that
the prevailing opinion that abortion has lower death rates associated
cannot be supported by examination of death certificates.(1,2) This may
not be entirely independent of psychological issues, however, since many
of the additional deaths are associated with suicide, and possibly risk
taking/self-destructive behavior in the case of higher rates of death
related to accidents and homicide.
Concerns about higher rates of breast cancer, pelvic inflammatory
disease, higher rates of subsequent premature deliveries, and other
reproductive health problems must also be weighed in a risk/benefit
analysis.
Those who are seriously interested in conducting a risk/benefit
analysis regarding abortion and childbirth should have reference to the
"Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography"(3). This
book includes over a thousand references related to other physical and
psychological complications of abortion organized into 140 categories.
In my opinion, this reference book belongs in every medical library.
It's available through distributors in England as well as in an electronic
format.
References
(1) Gissler M, Kauppila R, Merilainen J, Toukomaa H, Hemminki E.
Pregnancy-associated deaths in Finland 1987-1994 -- definition problems
and benefits of record linkage. Acta Obset Gynecol Scand 1997;76:651-657.
(2) Gissler M, Hemminki E, Lonnqvist J. Suicides after pregnancy in
Finland: 1987-94: register linkage study. BMJ, 1996; 313: 1431-1434.
(3) Strahan, TW. Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An annotated
bibliography with commentary. Springfield, IL. Acorn Books 1996.
Competing interests: No competing interests