LEAF, Roe, and rural abortions

Aw, man. I would've loved to attend this event last Friday put on by West Coast LEAF (Women's Legal Education and Action Fund). I've attended/volunteered at their annual Persons Day breakfasts but didn't realize there was an International Women's Day event as well.

From what I've read, this Dr. Weddington is a pretty incredible activist. Can you imagine being 26 years old and arguing in the Supreme Court? It would be fascinating to hear her thoughts on abortion rights so many years after Roe v. Wade. [Edited to add: I guess I could've found out easily enough]

Reading about some of the bad legislation coming out of the States (Mississippi, I'm looking at YOU) makes Canada appear infinitely more progressive in this area. There is still work to be done, though.

An interesting article on the topic recently ran in the Sun (and kudos to the paper for this in-depth, well-written article that shows none of the prevalent and irritating tendency in print media to interview fringe lunatics in a misguided attempt to present a "balanced" story), describing how although access to abortion has vastly improved in Vancouver and other urban centres in BC, women living in rural areas still face an uphill battle in receiving timely, effective service. Because there are no abortion clinics in most smaller cities and towns, women must attend at a hospital for this procedure. However, unlike at those designated clinics, a GP referral is required to receive an abortion at a hospital. So, if your family doctor is anti-choice, as I know at least a handful in Kamloops are, it would become pretty difficult to access treatment expediently.

I remember discussions in my health law class about what procedures doctors (particularly in remote areas where a patient's options are more limited) should be required by law to perform, and there is certainly no easy answer to that question. But women's health should not be compromised for geographical reasons.