A A8-Wednesday, August 6, 1980 - North Shore News ste: By CHRIS LLOYD admitted to the hospital and one abortion. This is the issue which is dominating the election of directors to the hospital board and which has been responsible for the mem- bership of the hospital society leaping from a figure of about 60 people four years ago to 2,658 as of July 16 this year. By the time the August 14 deadline arrives, when any North Shore resident wishing to vote in the society's September 17 election of four new directors, must have paid their $6 mem- bership, the number is likely to have swollen appreciably further. The election has become a major community issue since the North Shore Pro-Life group, with its 211 mem- bers who oppose all abortions. began its “education” program [two years ago 1n an attempt to do something about curbing abortion figures it feels are out of control. Thew support has been countered by a _ reaction from “pro-choice” groups, who insisi that abortion 1s a fundamental nght of women in determining what happens to their own bodies. Hospital management and medica) staff are anxious about the effects of the aboruon issue. which they say is already having a divisive effect on the day-to- day running of the hospital which pnrndes itself in being second to none for efficiency and care of ils patients There are already five Pro-Life endorsed directors on the 17-member board One of these is up for re election this vear and staf! lear that Wo the remaining tour vacaneies are filled by We SUPERCUTTERS HIS-N-HER NATURAL HAIR DESIGNS Sun. Yam. - Ipm.; Thurs. & Fri 9am - 7pin Mon., Tues., Wed., Sat. 9am - Opm OR EVERY THREE pregnant women Lions. Gate Hospital, performs two i births Pro-Life supporters then the anti-abortion group will be precariously close to a hospital “takeover” which could be clinched next vear. The fear is that if the “takeover” occurs the Pro- Life people could refuse to appoint an abortion com- mittee, which has to approve all abortions carried out at LGH, théreby = ending abortion at the hospitai. This. says the hospitai, would not stop North Shore women from abortions but would merely send them over to Van- couver General. which already performs two abortions for each live birth. Hospital board chairman Maurice Fells talks of the concerns he has about a Single issue dominating the boards business “Their mind is occupied with one subject and I don't think that subject is as important as they seem to think it is.” he says. “It splits the board and there is a tack of cooperation It spreads down through the system and the staff of the hospital sense there ts nol a strong cohesive force and start wondering whether they should or should not be doing things.” “It disrupt, the spirtt of the hospitai something which Lions Gate has more than ans other hospital on the Lower Mainland ~ “We have insinuations and references to the medical staff which were never there betore Nortn Chairman Shore Pro Lite David Pearce insist’ his group has ne desire to make a target ot the Nospitat of Curn aloamte og weal | Per thar Martha: reraita “youya ate having - tregths trea ’ politicai forum. * “We don't feel it is Pro- Life pressure but as in- dividuals in the community who are getting up and doing something.” he maintains. But he says of abortion “We cannot accept it as we are convinced life begins at the point of concéption and that 1s why the Pro-Life movement is not going to go away.” ' Pearce claims that Lions Gate Hospital is carrying out abortion on demand and insists that this is not the way DAVID PEARCE North Shore Pro-Life Chairman the abortion law was in- tended to be apphed He points to statistics in a 1974 study on abortion a: LGH by West Vancouver; doctor Marlene Hunter which hospital administrator John Borthwick agrees are recognized as being accurate and indicative of the trend ever since Phe report shows tha: during o 44: ween period there were 605 applications for abortion at the hospital and ab were approved Pro-Lite ligures show the Nalitond: axvclage lor abortions across Canada is 1 4torevery LOO live births In Bo they sav ats iw aborQons per OO hive births AU LG sav the yroup >> abortions are pertormed tor every POO dive oirttis Lor baeunter records that oo. the appl ations for abortion during he tes period 2 Te CUu7 The natuta ou fotOows: the fiow tne Nav ANG 'S 2 oi! exact as toe oa Natual, falls complete was 4 IMO AMY A PS Toow YD The CURL rs ao, a ee reite attes ate penn ANON) whoo vata 7 ors me mos Is Wetts) oar Witt N\ vet vow fey We UWATLS renles y veal ahah dork: est one ws At) AS ‘ Wis! rors 1 hype t wre y ple Te Coupou BRING: THIS AD WORTH & FIRST vIStT EXPIRE 5S Aveo By appointment 984-9817 If no answer! call 985-8634 IN THE INTEFINATIONAL PP. AZA HO TE. CORNER MARINE OR AND CAPILANO ALD EE IIe LIONS GATE HOSPITAL a troversy. TIED UP IN MEETINGS? gave psychiatric reasons for the request, 29 gave medical reasons and 49 gave social reasons. The reason given for the remaining 504 abortions was that the ap- plicant was in no position to raise a child The doctor's report stated: ‘We neither passed judgement on nor rejected the reasons given, we ac- cepted the surgeon's statement.” “Nevertheless. one cannot but have personal views and it was often difficult to refrain from presuming that ‘she is in no position to raise a child indicated = in- convenience trather than incipient emotional disaster.” Her figures indicated that abortion does not cater primarily for unmarried teenagers. as 1s sometimes popularly believed Of the 605 cases. by far the most (320; were aged 20- 29. Of those 320. 101 were married or had stable common-law relanonships. Chairman of Lions Gate Medicai Services Advisory Commiitee Dr Frank Sigurdson comments on the > figures “I dont think the average person cares about these, staustics They are in- terested in their own welfare KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WES-TEL Aslimline Wes-tel pager tucked inside your pocket will keep you in constant touch no matter where you find yourself For cost details & demonstration. cal and how if (pregnancy? WES . affects them.” frfrec 732-7255 CONTINUED ON PAGE A9 CONFUSED ABOUT INSULATION? Colonial will reinsulate your attic for $ 502 ‘. (* your home was Oulll prior to 1961 is your principal residence and is three storeys or tess. you re eligibie fo’ a tax adie grant of 100% of your insulation matenals — up to a maximurr ot $350.00 and \ of your labour coat up to $150 00 Colonial Will Watt for the Gov't Cheque. $50.00 te all you pay''' Colonial will handle all paperwork 1000 eq. ft. Bungaiow ‘ota! 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