Upsetting notice in the doctors surgery.

[Chica31]

I have come home from the doctors really upset.

A year and a half ago I had an abortion, our DD1 had trisomy 9, a really rare genetic disorder. We very painfully agreed to an abortion. I still find this decision very painful but since the birth of my DD2 I have days when I don't think about it too much. Pregnancy was hell.

Sellotaped to the lift door was a newspaper article about abortion, since it became legal in Spain and comparing it to the UK. It discussed the amount of babies that are actually alive for a few minutes after the abortion and even included a picture of an aborted baby at 10 weeks in a doctors hand. My DD1 was 23 weeks. It's the picture that is upsetting me more than anything. Should I complain to the doctors? If so what do I say? I can't believe I stood and read it while I was waiting for the lift. I didn't want to, but was strangely compelled to.

Sorry to ramble, I felt I needed to include the background.

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

Maybe they don't know it's there, I'd call them, this is horrible.

[SolidGoldBrass]

I think it would be worth complaining to the doctors surgery, actually. It's possible that the article was taped up there by some activist loon who doesn't even work there. But even if it does reflect the beliefs of one or more of the surgery staff, it's inappropriate and upsetting to display it in the surgery.
You don't need to go into your own story with them: FFS plenty of people who do not have abortion or pregnancy on their minds at the time do not actually want to look at a picture of an aborted foetus while waiting to see a doctor about their ingrown toenails, and propaganda (which this sounds like: presumably the article was from one of the right-wing papers) has no place in a surgery.

[jkklpu]

I think I'd probably have torn it down - totally inappropriate to be in a doctor's surgery: bet it was a patient/campaigner who stuck it there, nothing to do with the practice

[paisleyleaf]

I thought that. That they might not know it's there.
A doctor's surgery is not the place for that sort of literature, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone snuck it there.

[blinks]

it's almost guaranteed that the doctors don't know it's there. a quick phone call and they'd remove it asap.

so sorry you had to go through that chica x

[Chica31]

Thanks, I dont know why I didn't tear it down. It was the first thing my DH said. It has taken me all evening to tell him, again I dont know why.

[Wonderstuff]

How horrid. I'd call them. Surely the surgery didn't put this up. Sorry you have been put through this.

[MamiBabi]

I think it's absolutely inapropriate to have such an article sellotaped up in the doctors.

I'm really sorry that this happened to you today - whether you decide to complain or not is up to you, I may be tempted not to on the basis that it would force me to spend more time thinking about this than is necassary. Maybe, for me, the answer would be to return to the doctor's to remove the article so that nobody else has to experience the upset you had today.

Unfortunately, life will always have reminders for us of the things that hurt the most. The trick is learning to move on from the setbacks and re-focus on the important things.

I don't know if this helps, I just didn't want to not acknowledge what you've said as it feels a bit close to the bone for me too.

[jkklpu]

sounds as distasteful to me as seeing a SPUC stall at a summer fete once, nestled next to the cake stall, complete with photo leaflets

[Chica31]

Thanks mamibabi. i think that is what i will do. I'll go back tomorrow and tear it down, I need reminding sometimes that loads of other people have been though it too. I don't want anyone else to go though the pain too. Complaining would take time, as I need to do it in a foreign language, so would need alot of thought to get the tone right.

Thanks so much for your prompt replies! It has really helped

[Chica31]

I find abortion issues so difficult. As I'm sure everyone does. Before I really believed I was pro choice, but never believed it would happen to me. Especially for a much wanted and loved baby.

Thanks everyone