A Time to Choose Life: Women, Abortion and Human Rights

Anne Savoie is a youth counsellor in Anjou, Quebec.

This book contains articles written by various doctors and scholars
dealing with the issue of abortion. All contributors would describe
their stance as “pro-life.” The book is divided into three sections:
philosophical aspects; medical and psychological considerations; and
legal aspects.

The first part discusses philosophical aspects of abortion, such as the
dilemma of choice in terms of the woman versus the unborn child. The
second part deals with the potential medical and psychological
consequences of abortion. With all the advancements made in medicine,
few North American women die in either childbirth or legal abortion. But
according to the authors, abortion can be more damaging, both physically
and psychologically, than childbirth. The third section covers the
different laws governing abortion: the provincial civil laws and the
federal criminal law.

The book is interesting to read and can excite discussions. It contains
writings only of those firmly opposed to abortion and therefore gives no
credence to any pro-choice (or, as some of its authors would say,
“pro-abortion”) positions. The various articles bring out
interesting and valid arguments against abortion but do not offer any
long-term studies demonstrating the effects on the families and lives of
women who choose not to abort or who are denied choice. Some authors
claim that abortion is a form of child abuse but do not offer supporting
evidence that unwanted children are never abused children.

The book proposes some valid arguments for opposing abortion, but
unfortunately does not offer long-term help to women who would live in
poverty, hardship, and ostracism if they had a child they did not want
or could not afford to raise.