Medical veteran backs relook of abortion law

July 28, 2008
Medical veteran backs relook of abortion law
I WRITE to support Thursday's view, 'Time for Singapore to relook abortion law'.

An important medical reason is that allowing abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy without restriction puts the mother's physical and mental health at risk.

Readers may be interested to know that the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) actively debated the Abortion Act in 1969 and held several discussions with then health minister Chua Sian Chin. I was closely involved as president of the SMA.

Many doctors felt it inappropriate for the medical profession to support the change because we were taught it was criminal to perform abortion. A doctor could be jailed for 20 years for performing an abortion and, if the patient died as a result, it was considered murder.

When Mr Chua said he was disappointed as he had expected the SMA to produce a learned paper rather than come up with contradictory statements, my response was:

'Is it not good that the doctors did not change their views on an important issue overnight without debate?'

Singapore is undergoing extensive changes and these are influenced by professionals - their ideas, their thoughts. All the more reason professional bodies should be encouraged to voice their opinions on national issues.

I was therefore concerned to read that the Law Society is not encouraged to present its views on legal matters unless invited by the Ministry of Law.

Is it not important in a rapidly changing world that the views of professionals should be encouraged and welcomed? Their views are only opinions. The Government has other views and is free to ignore and reject these views.

No government will take a professional organisation seriously if it is interested only in the welfare of its members and disregards the interests of the nation.

Let us create effective medical organisations via which doctors can sway the Government's thoughts with logical and determined arguments.

Prof Arthur Lim
President, Medical Alumni Association
Past President, Singapore Medical Association