By CHRIS LLOYD ra A8-Wednesday, August 13, 1980 - North Shore News T FIRST IMPRESSION there appears to be no middle ground in the Lions Gate abortion ruckus. North Shore citizens who want some input in how the issue is handled at their community hospital might understandably think their only choice is in voting for directors who favor either open- door abortion or no abortions at all. Such residents who wish to voice an opinion must be registered by tomorrow (August 14) as members of the North and West Van- couver Hospital Society if they intend voting in the September 17 election for the five vacancies on the board. Apart from those who are able to see the issue in terms as black and white as the figureheads in this con- froversy, voters are faced with a quandry, created by true political polarization, of feeling they can only choose one extreme or the other. Hospital board chairman Maurice Fellis, who is standing for re-election, categorically states that the issue was decided long ago and those concerned about the hospital's record of performing one abortion for each two live births are merely holding up the every day running of the hospital and the management of “more important issues.” As far as he’s concerned, the hospital operates within its interpretation of the Abortion Act and the fact that so many abortions are carried out indicates com- munity acceptance of the situation. His polar opposite, North Shore Pro-Life Chairman David Pearce, views the situation in ideological terms that transcend many people's reality. Because of his behef tn ‘the oasic mght to hfe” Pearce opposes abortion under any circumstances and feels this is a Pro-Life fundamental. As such, Pearce says he would not accept the result tf a community) referendum were to be held on abortion The referendum idea is favored by hospital ad. ministrator John Borthwick in his attempt to separate abortion from the day-to-day work of the Lions Gate board and weed out the many hospital = socicty members whose only interest is to vote on the abortion Plymouth CHRYSLER | Dodge Trucks SALES/SERVICE issue. . Pearce says that whatever the result, such a referen- dum would make no dif- ference to Pro-Life con- tinuing its campaign. “I think the community, once it is aware of the facts, will realize that a human life begins at conception and that it is not up to us to dictate whether a baby is going to die. We don't have that right of choice. “And that is why the Pro- Life movement is not going to go away.” However, a member of the hospital board who was endorsed by Pro-Life when elected a year ago feels that in spite of the apparently unbridgeable abyss between the two sides that there is a middle course. Norm Duce says that not only is compromise possible but that he feels it is inevitable. Duce says that all five existing board members who were endorsed by Pro-Life, as well as the three who will be standing in September for the new vacancies have more moderate views than the hard line of members such as Pearce who are known among the organiza- tion as “hundred per cent- ers.” He insists that fears by Pro-Choice groups and the hospital administration that the Pro-Life candidates are intent on gaining a majority and closing down the abortion committee, that is a legal necessity in approving all abortions at LGH, are without foundation. Even Pro-Life chairman Pearce demies that his group is trying (to take the hospital. Candidates running on a Pro-Life slate. he says, are merely cilizens concerned about the apparent abortion: on-demand policy in cffect ove#nr at Lions Gate, who = are standing on their own initiative and who have asked Pro-Life to endorse them. “What they are going to do about abortion is entirely their own affair.” Duce maintains that none of the Pro-Life board members or candidates is out to do away with abor- tion. What they want, he says, is for the hospital to approve abortions according to the literal interpretation of the Abortion Act — where it has been established that continuation of the preg- nancy will jeopardize the mother’s physical or mental health. And he concedes that if the Pro-Life candidates sweep the board again this NORM DUCE ‘upsetting the club’ year — as he predicts they will — that with eight sup- porters on the 17 member board they will be pre- cariously close to a majority, so that compromise will finally be possible. As well as cases where mental or physical health are at stake, Duce also finds abortion acceptable when women have conceived as a result of rape or incest, instances the Pro-Life “hundred per cent-ers” will not acknowledge as grounds. Such instances, he feels, are what the abortion law was ofly,.nally intended for. “Il would consider rape or incest would be such traumauic expemences that they would justify. We wouldn't put restrictions on the abortions committee that would prevent them dealhng with that situation “These instances repre- sent( (rauma and a very sig nificant potential for mental health problems.” Assessing which applica tions are bona fide abortion instances ts the function of the abortion committee as intended by Parliament. he BAYS But he adds _ that psychiatne reports are not parts and service depts. now open: je community must decide ever used in instances where mental health is submitted as a factor and that the vast majority of abortions at LGH are “inappropriate.” Chairman Fellis says he has already made _ every effort to have the abortion issue dealt with but at the same time prevent it from preoccupying board meet- ings. Shortly after the influx of Pro-Life candidates to the board last year he suggested an ad-hoc committee should be appointed to look at abortion “in order to enable the board to get on with its regular business at its regular meeting.” A report submitted by the Majority of the committee indicated that “basically the system in effect should continue,” he says. But he maintains that Pro- Life endorsed board members refused to accept the decision and have been trying to find ways around it ever since. Duce answers the accusa- tion: ‘‘He is. being dishonest.” And he cites the very committee’ Fellis mentions as being a refusal by hospital endorsed board members to compromise in any way. The Pro-Life nominees had hoped that at least there would be agreement in deciding that parents of juvenile . girls seeking abortion would be required to give their permission first. He says the committee insisted that such girls should continue to have abortions without parental consent, providing two doctors signed such a recom- mendation, and that the committee actually wanted to liberalize abortion § fur- ther, by removing all restricuons. Duce says the vote against the Pro-Life candidates on the issue by all 13 hospital endorsed members of the board tllustrated = their IGLOO Gallery Gifts Truly Canadian PERSONIF YING POLARIZATION — Board chairman Maurice Fellis complete refusal to com- promise in any way. “Had we been able to achieve some consensus and a show of willingness to consider the issue on its own merits we would not have been forced to have another showdown this year.” Asked to explain why the hospital-nominated mem- bers of the board = so adamantly stand behind open-door abortion, Duce says it is because abortion is the subject that has been chosen to divide the two sides rather than because it is the absolute issue. He says that until the Pro- Life “education” program began, with members of the hospital society totalling about 60 prior to 1978 compared to the figure that will reach well over 2,000 by tomorrow, the board had operated as a “club” which did not have its decisions questioned. “We represent a threat to the club. We are there as uninvited guests lo a very private club and that is what the polanzation issue is all about.” He maintains that resent- ment by existing members of the “club” — members nominated by the hospital, has made consensus im- possible on any aspect of abortion. Club rules, he says, oper- ated around the premise that the community provides the hospital and the medical staff runitas they see fit. “The real issue as far as the medical staff is) con- cerned ts not abortion, but that they are vetting a kind of trustee who can upset the club when they have had it very good . On the tssue of abortion, Duce claims that contrary to Pro-Life chairman David Pearce what Fellis says about the ' overwhelming support for the official hospital policy, staff are divided about 50-50, ’ although opponents are wary of voicing their opinions publically. As for the public, Duce maintains it is also divided on abortion and that the majority does not favor abortion on demand. He adds that because he feels that is the case, he considers Pro-Life will again sweep the board in the September election and that then consensus will be inevi- table. In such an event, he says, it will probably end the situation and Pro-Life may not feel the need to presenta slate of candidates in future. Already the election has reached the proportion that many are saying that voting by personal attendance of © members at the annual meet- ing is impractical and that elections should be carried - out in the same way as those for school boards and municipal councils. Duce feels this may well be the last elections’ are held in their present fashion. “I have very strong sus- picions that changes are being considered in Victoria to change the _ hospital society electoral process,” he says. Meanwhile, Borthwick is left trying to find somewhere on the North Shore large enough to accommodate alt the people expected to turn out for the voting. “Maybe we should just go out and hire a great big circus tent) to hold the meeting,” he says, e¢x- pressing his exasperation. “Perhaps that’s where the whole thing belongs ” For your visitors to the North Shore or for yourself “Distinctive Arts or Crafts" ‘ Soapstone - B.C. Jade - Wood Carvings Apple Dolls - Cards & Prints - Charms eapilano Mall é PL YMOUTH CHRYSLER 8AM-9PM 1177 Marine Drive. North Van. 980-6511 985-6021 CrOTEC ie cai s year hospital