Abortion, Depression and the APA |
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Rochester Area Right To Life |
Abortion and Depression and the APA
Given that abortion has been linked to later problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, relationship difficulties, and many facets of anxiety, one would expect that the American Psychological Association, the APA, would have studied the evidence carefully in order to be able to respond professionally to the issue.
However, it apparently is not so.
A longitudinal study by Professor David M. Fergusson of New Zealand found an increased level of mental health problems following abortions, even after the removal from the data of the effects of prior mental health problems.
Prof. Fergusson found the results unexpected. Being someone who considered himself pro-choice, he had expected that only women who have mental health problems before an abortion will have them afterwards. The unexpected results caused him to examine more closely the statements made by the APA and the studies which they cited in support of their statements.
His conclusion was that the APA�s position, that abortion is harmless, is not justified by the evidence they cite and he publicly criticized them.
Fergusson�s criticism caused another psychologist to contact the APA for their comments on the issue. Warren Throckmorton is a psychologist and also a newspaper columnist. He spoke with APA�s spokesperson Dr. Nancy Felipe Russo, a longtime supporter of abortion as a civil right.
The following is a summary of the communication with the APA.
When asked to comment on the New Zealand study and the pro-choice authors' criticisms of the APA, Russo told Throckmorton that the APA's position on abortion was established on the view that abortion is a civil right. As quoted in Throckmorton's Washington Times column, Russo explained that the Christchurch study would have no effect on the APA's position because "to pro-choice advocates, mental health effects are not relevant to the legal context of arguments to restrict access to abortion."
In the first draft of Throckmorton's column, which he sent for comment to another expert on abortion research, Dr. David Reardon of the Springfield, IL-based Elliot Institute, Russo was quoted more bluntly, saying, "it doesn't matter what the evidence says." Throckmorton and Russo subsequently agreed to the clarification of her statement as it appeared in the Washington Times.
Dr. Fergusson�s experience in publishing his findings has been a new experience for him. Normally his articles are accepted for publication immediately. In this case, however, he had to submit it to several places before finding one that was willing to accept it.
Such silence is harmful to women contemplating abortion. They have a right to be allowed to make fully informed decisions about their health, a right that they do not have if their doctors are kept in the dark about the scientific facts associated with abortion.
It makes no sense to say, �Women will not have psychological problems following an abortion, because abortion is a civil right.� How sad is that this is exactly the message coming through loud and clear from the APA.
RARTL July, 2006
The summary comes from Dr. David Reardon�s scholarly website, in an article entitled:
"Evidence Doesn't Matter" -- APA Spokesperson Says of Abortion Complications
Studies Showing Emotional Problems Not Relevant to American Psychological Association's Pro-Choice Advocacy
The rest of the article, including the sources,
in which Reardon details what he finds wrong with the situation, can be found on
his website
www.afterabortion.info , property of the
Elliot Institute
PO Box 7348
Springfield, IL 62791-7348
(217) 525-8202
Updated on RARTL July, 2006
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