MAILBOX 7 - Sundg)y, February 4, 1990 - North Shore News Greater effort should be made to reduce abortions Dear Editor: Some clarification and correc- tion of the cormments in your arti- cle Abortion Truce (Jan. 12) are necessary. The abortion issue was first raised at the hospital board level in 1979 one year before Mr. Warne’s election to the board. I urged the board to constitute the therapeutic abortion committee according to the requirements of the Criminal Code of Canada, and the hospital complied. During the next two years, discussion on the issue itself was infrequent, although it may be that any consideration of this impor- tant issue offended some board members. In time 1 made inquiries and proposals directed to ensuring that the abortion practice at LGH was in strict conformity with what I and other lawyers believed to be the requirements of the Criminal Code of Canada, and in this | was unsuccessful. At no time did I advocate the abolishing of the abortion commit- tee or abortion at LGH, but mere- ly compliance with what the law then was. 1 decided with Mr. Michael Whelton to resort to the courts (a forum advocated by Mr. Warne in your article) to seek clarification of the law and a rul- ing on LGH policies. If my action had proceeded to trial, the law would have been clar- ified, resulting in a proper inter- pretation and administration of the law for not only LGH but the whole of Canada. Regrettably, the courts were presented over the years with technical arguments which had the effect of avoiding the real issue, i.e. whether the practices of the abortion commit- tees were in conformity with the law. tf the board had taken a more constructive approach toward this legal action, the ‘‘abortion truce’’ (which should not be seen as a softening of the pro-life position on the issue of abortion) might have occurred many years earlier. Contrary to the reported state- ment of Mr. Borthwick, the board (1979-82) was not divided into ‘two camps on every issue.’’ There was undoubtedly healthy discussion, debate and disagree- ment on a number of issues by all board members. In general, delib- erations took place without ran- cour. Debate is surely to be expected from all board members as part of the decision-making process. Debate on the abortion issue at LGH was entirely appropriate and healthy, if understandably uncom- fortable for all concerned. News’ abortion review ‘excellent’ supportive of the hospital, sensitive to Lions Gate’s Dear Editor: I would like to commend the North Shore News on the excellent and very fair review of the “turmoil years” of the abortion issue at Lions Gate Hospital. (Abortion Truce, Dec. 27.) Through those difficult times the North Shore News always provided extensive and equitable coverage of the many points of view held on this issue by members of the North Shore public. It also has rernained totally Dear Editor: As a long-time resident of the North Shore, I take exception to the views expressed by past direc- tors of Lions Gate Hospital (Abor- tion Truce, Jan. 12). This is not the first time membership in the North and West Vancouver Hospital Society in- creased as residents became aware news coverage. Hilary Clark 1984-1987 West Vancouver of certain problems, such as the need for a bigger, more modern hospital, and now the need to tegain the hospital’s good name. Aborting ‘‘unwanted” babies has never been the choice of good doctors, and they should have wel- comed the support of pro-life directors in legalizing the way the abortion committee was run in commitment to first class community health care. Thank you for a continuum of good community Lions Gate Hospital board chair, 1979. Pro-lifers who have stood for election deserve our thanks, and those who have served on the board, our admiration for a job well done. F. Daniel North Vancouver Gear golf course to average players Dear Editor: 1 was pleased to read in the North Shore News on Jan. 14 that North Vancouver District Council is examining, and I hope favorably, the proposal that a public golf course be built in the district. I know that this project will be well received by the golfers on the North Shore, who are now obliged to go to Burnaby, Surrey or Van- couver to enjoy this pleasant rec- reation. This letter is a plea to North Vancouver District Council, that News’ Mailbox policy WHEN SENDING a letter to the editor, be sure to include your name, written legibly, your full address and your telephone number. ey, S| Due to space constraints we cannot publish all the letters we receive. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, accura- cy, legality or taste. they resist the blandishments of the hot-shot golfers and the golf ar- chitects, who will want to see the new course as ‘‘world class,” “championship class’? or even ‘‘challenging.”” Only about five per cent of ail golfers fall into the ‘‘expert’’ cate- gory. The rest of us would be discouraged from playing on courses more designed to please the Jow-handicappers, and the new course would therefore not serve to satisfy the desires of the great ma- jority. Alan R. Eiles West Vancouver PLEASE HELP US... | to provide milk, bread, fruits and vegetables, etc. «FEED THE HUNGRY IN CUR COMMUNITY * $20 helps us buy a weekly bag of groceries for one family © $60 helps sustain a family for one month * $720 assists that same family for a year Please help those in need. All donations are tax deductible. ew SUP AND MAIL WITH YOUR GIET TODAY an = qi YES! | want to provide food for the hungry. ' : Mo $20 0 $600$720 DOther $___4} 1 Name } Oj Address a UW. City, et Fa sPostal 12 i 1650 Quebec Street, a THE FOOD BANK Vancouver, B.C. V6A 3L6 Time has shown that abortion is an issue that will not go away. Contrary to Mr. Warne’s apparent belief that the abortion issue should be addressed in Parliament and the courts, but not by the hospital in which they take place, the board and medical staff of LGH should make a greater effort to reduce the high abortion rate at LGH. Grant Carruthers Former member of the board of Lions Gate Hospital GOVERNMENT OF CANADA T-BILLS 12% {* to momth rate subject) NO FEE RRSP WHY WAIT IN LINE? RRSP's BY PHONE CALL ROD CLARK 669-6262 WALWYN STODGELL COCHRAN MURRAY LTD. 988-6321 Kenneth J. Baxter awyer 310 - 185 Chadwick Court. North Vancouver Gust south of the market — next to the Seabus) Lonsdale Quay Plaza ae LAURSEN CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $6.50 per panel unlined, $7.50 lined. 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