Addiction experts have described abortion as a form of self harm when contesting the claims made by Irene Vilar that she is an "abortion addict", according to
The Age.
'Impossible Motherhood' is a newly released book in which Ms Vilar compares her 15 abortions in 17 years to the addictions of "a druggie".
According to the article, a senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Sydney, Fiona Giles, believes "the addiction portrayed in the book is not to abortions but to an abusive relationship".
The article quotes Dr. Giles as saying that “Her problem is that she was addicted to a relationship with a much older man who was also her teacher so not only was there an age difference, there was a strong power difference." “My main feeling was that she … was inflicting self-harm as a way of coping through that time.”
Leslie Cannold, president of Reproductive Choice Australia and a medical ethicist at Monash University and at the University of Melbourne, dismisses the case, stating that "This woman's story is anomalous. That's why it was seen as worthy of a book".
However, of paramount importance is that this situation can occur in the first place. Where is the accountability of abortion providers to all women? Where is the duty of care to the patient and why wasn't anything done to provide psychological care for Ms Vilar? And not a mention of the 15 babies needlessly destroyed!
In saying "What Vilar's story clearly shows is the importance of access to safe and legal abortion", Ms Cannold demonstrates the abortion lobby’s disregard for women, the difficult situations they face and their welfare. Women in situations like Ms Vilar’s need access to professional, confidential support and care, not more ready access to abortion. Legal abortion (no abortion is safe) only continues the cycle of abuse and loss.
Ms Vilar is yet another example of women deserving better.
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