Magnus
2008-02-23 18:20:31 UTC
Maybe a woman's so-called "right to choose" really ought to be called
a woman's "right to lose," which in some cases means, lose her life.
magnus
From the London Telegraph
Artist hanged herself after aborting her twins
Last Updated: 2:03am GMT 22/02/2008
An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight
weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: "I should never have had an
abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum."
Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1
2007. She was declared dead early the following day - her 31st
birthday.
Her suicide note read: "I told everyone I didn't want to do it, even
at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my
babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else
does."
The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Miss Beck had split up with
her boyfriend, referred to as "Ben" after he "reacted badly" to the
pregnancy.
She saw her GP before the termination, but missed an appointment at a
hospital in Penzance. She then cancelled, but later turned up to an
appointment at a clinic at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske. The
counsellor was on holiday so a doctor referred Miss Beck to a
pregnancy counselling telephone service eight days before carrying out
the abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, the inquest heard.
The coroner, Dr Emma Carlyon, ordered that the identities of the
doctor who performed the abortion and her lead consultant be kept
secret.
The inquest heard that Sylvia Beck, the victim's mother, wrote to the
hospital after her daughter's death, saying: "I want to know why she
was not given the opportunity to see a counsellor.
"She was only going ahead with the abortion because her boyfriend did
not want the twins.
"I believe this is what led Emma to take her own life - she could not
live with what she had done."
The doctor said: "I discussed Emma's situation with her, and wrote on
the form, 'Unsupported, lives alone, ex-partner aware'.
"It is normal practice to give a woman the number for telephone
counselling when a counsellor is not available.
"I am satisfied that everything was done to make sure that Emma
consented to the operation.
She added: "We have since appointed more counsellors so there is more
holiday cover."
Katie Gibbs, Miss Beck's GP, told the hearing: "She was extremely
distressed by the abortion procedure, and I didn't think she ever came
to terms with it.
"She had a long history of anxiety and depression. Despite my best
efforts, she was not willing to see a counsellor after the
termination."
Her boss at the clinic, said: "The time that can be given to a woman
by a counsellor is limited in a busy hospital.
"I am satisfied everything was done to make sure Emma was consenting
to surgery. I don't feel there was any gap in the counselling service.
"There were lots of individuals who would be alert to any doubts. The
comments made by Emma's mother are not about a doctor I recognise."
Mrs Beck told the court: "Emma was considered a talented artist, and
sold a number of paintings.
"She was pleased when she became pregnant, but Ben reacted badly to
the news."
Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Carlyon said: "It is clear that a
termination can have a profound effect on a woman's life.
"But I am reassured by the evidence of the doctors here."
a woman's "right to lose," which in some cases means, lose her life.
magnus
From the London Telegraph
Artist hanged herself after aborting her twins
Last Updated: 2:03am GMT 22/02/2008
An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight
weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: "I should never have had an
abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum."
Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1
2007. She was declared dead early the following day - her 31st
birthday.
Her suicide note read: "I told everyone I didn't want to do it, even
at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my
babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else
does."
The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Miss Beck had split up with
her boyfriend, referred to as "Ben" after he "reacted badly" to the
pregnancy.
She saw her GP before the termination, but missed an appointment at a
hospital in Penzance. She then cancelled, but later turned up to an
appointment at a clinic at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske. The
counsellor was on holiday so a doctor referred Miss Beck to a
pregnancy counselling telephone service eight days before carrying out
the abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, the inquest heard.
The coroner, Dr Emma Carlyon, ordered that the identities of the
doctor who performed the abortion and her lead consultant be kept
secret.
The inquest heard that Sylvia Beck, the victim's mother, wrote to the
hospital after her daughter's death, saying: "I want to know why she
was not given the opportunity to see a counsellor.
"She was only going ahead with the abortion because her boyfriend did
not want the twins.
"I believe this is what led Emma to take her own life - she could not
live with what she had done."
The doctor said: "I discussed Emma's situation with her, and wrote on
the form, 'Unsupported, lives alone, ex-partner aware'.
"It is normal practice to give a woman the number for telephone
counselling when a counsellor is not available.
"I am satisfied that everything was done to make sure that Emma
consented to the operation.
She added: "We have since appointed more counsellors so there is more
holiday cover."
Katie Gibbs, Miss Beck's GP, told the hearing: "She was extremely
distressed by the abortion procedure, and I didn't think she ever came
to terms with it.
"She had a long history of anxiety and depression. Despite my best
efforts, she was not willing to see a counsellor after the
termination."
Her boss at the clinic, said: "The time that can be given to a woman
by a counsellor is limited in a busy hospital.
"I am satisfied everything was done to make sure Emma was consenting
to surgery. I don't feel there was any gap in the counselling service.
"There were lots of individuals who would be alert to any doubts. The
comments made by Emma's mother are not about a doctor I recognise."
Mrs Beck told the court: "Emma was considered a talented artist, and
sold a number of paintings.
"She was pleased when she became pregnant, but Ben reacted badly to
the news."
Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Carlyon said: "It is clear that a
termination can have a profound effect on a woman's life.
"But I am reassured by the evidence of the doctors here."