to think older teens should be made to watch what an abortion is in PHSE. (sorry possibly triggering)

[StraightLineOfResignation]

I know this may be controversial but I have thought this for some time.
Abortion is legal in this country but still straight forward , informative talks about it are clouded by morality and judgement and at the end of the day, sometimes people need to have one in tragic circumstances i.e people who are made critically ill by pregnancy.
And are often as well as already scared and sad, i don't think most people make this decision lightly, are woefully underprepared which i'm sure must only add to emotional trauma.
and of course there are too many potential uninterested fathers who just utter 'get rid of it' at the hearing of potentially being a father, so disgustingly flippantly like throwing a crisp packet in the bin, I do think if they especially had seen a medical video of the procedure, well i think the number of people who just thrown that term around would be significantly less, if they had actually seen that image with their own eyes , and would be less detached from the idea and process.
I'm talking older teens , like 16+ here , not 11 year olds.
my mum and i have always though this, i would find it traumatising and pretty shocking, but compared to people who feel shame, go backstreet putting themselves at risk and people who go through with pregnancies they did not want/need. Surely a bit of discomfort is better then that being a legacy of another generation.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Are you from some pro life organisation OP?

I fail to see how putting teenagers off abortion achieves anything bar keeping an unwanted child.

[mrsjay]

would you want a young girl pregnant at 15 to see this footage and information and she would be put off by the grossness of it and keep a baby that she may not want or be able to care for,

[IneedAsockamnesty]

My son has just informed me that he wants a video of a tonsillectomy

[SilverApples]

There should be more explicit education in schools about safe sex, spotting red flags, early pregnancy, contraception and abortion, and practical advice on how and where to obtain it. Information-based rather than 'clouded by morality and judgement' as you say in your OP.
Some schools are already doing this very well.
OP, your idea is very similar to all the anti-abortion posters and emotive blackmail that is peddled by many religious organisations. Late abortion is a rarity, and 16 year olds need to know that pregnancy need never go that far.

[Hulababy]

You still haven't explain what you actually want teenagers to sit and watch?
At what stage of pregnancy?
Which procedure?

[mrsjay]

if you are not pro life what do you hope to achieve by this being taught/shown in school,

[fifi669]

japanese I originally stated that my friend had a 3d scan at 17 weeks and it weirded me out after seeing his face etc that you COULD have an abortion for no good reason for another 7 weeks. A poster said wanting an abortion was a good enough reason. I disagreed.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

The only reason for showing teenagers a surgical abortion would be to sway their opinion into being anti choice. I was handed a plastic foetus during my RE class and told that 'This baby could be aborted!' The foetus was almost the size of my head and I was told it was 12 weeks. Total bullshit and designed to shock and shame young women into having no choices when pregnant. Thank the universe that we do, in this country, have a choice over what happens to our own bodies. To live any other way would be intolerable.

[mrsjay]

my dd is a senior in school and her PSE lessons are quite informative imo without her seeing footage of a termination

[Dawndonnaagain]

What a ridiculous idea, OP, it's juvenile and pointless. I have no idea of what's involved in an apendectomy or hysterectomy, other than the basics, it would not stop me from having either under the right circumstances.

[formerbabe]

Who would agree to their abortion being filmed for this fabulous phse lesson were teenagers are MADE to watch it?

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

You'd never have one but not for moral reasons: can I ask what the reasons are?

[Szeli]

I grew up in an area where abortions are viewed as a contraceptive by many girls; I can see this as a good way of suggesting they use condoms/implants etc not as an antiabortion exercise in general

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Yabu

Why should something that is a legal right be anything but straightforward?

Women have abortions for many reasons. The whole point of it being straightforward is so they do not have to justify and "prove" they should be allowed one. That would be a step backward, who gets to decide what a "good" reason is? A doctor? A random religious person? Shouldn't be anybody but the woman (and supportive partner in some cases) choice.

[JapaneseMargaret]

If you are 'not anti- abortion in the slightest', then why do you think this is a good idea?

[JonSnowKnowsNothing]

I had a termination when going through a horrible time in my life.
I was alone, had not a single soul to talk to, had to catch the train to Birmingham for my pills/pessaries, get home TERRIFIED it was going to happen on the train....I think being guilt tripped into watching a fucking video of what was going on in my body might just have sent me over the edge.

[MoominIsGoingToBeAMumWaitWHAT]

Those talking about fillings, smear tests etc - the thing is, I'm guessing you know pretty much what those procedures entail, and that - unless you're particularly attatched to your cavities - more often than not, the choice whether to have that procedure or not doesn't have a massive impact on your life and emotional health, which is why you don't need educating that much on those procedures.

Abortion is hush hush and taboo for many people, and many - myself included until about three months ago where I had to actually look it up and find out about it for myself - don't know what happens. I saw it as a very scary, 'bad' option - because of the lack of education (obviously the type of education I'm suggesting is the opposite of what the OP's suggesting, as I feel abortion should be shown as a valid choice just as much as any other) about it. And also the huge implications of having a baby, and the potentially massive implications of having an abortion - but more importantly, where they can get support with dealing with any implications of it, rather than being told 'this is bad, don't do it'.

I think more education is needed... just not the sort the OP seems to want.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Op yes you do.

Wanting to make young people watch a video about a medical procedure is quite anti that procedure

[meddie]

Silverapples I wish all young girls were taught about red flags . Lundy bancroft should be on the curriculum.

[Wombat79]

I think this is a pretty sick idea. I had to have an ERPC due to a MMC at 12 weeks. If I had been forced to watch this procedure when younger my mental health and recovery from a horrible experience (which was not my fault) would have severely been effected. What about those poor ladies that have late miscarriages or have to deliver due to abnormalities not compatible with life?
The procedures used for abortions are the same as those whom have medical issues in pregnancy and have to deliver. Rightly or wrongly knowing too much for me would not be the right thing.
There are other ways in which to try and educate young adults/teenagers about the decisions they make in life.

[StraightLineOfResignation]

if you are not pro life what do you hope to achieve by this being taught/shown in school,

People to know what both forms are about, myth busting?

You do know most teens what much worse these days?

Thanks for the replies even though some are way off mark, I'm not religious in the slightest.

[HolidayArmadillo]

The amount of 'social' (Urgh) TOP's that take place near the 24 week limit are vanishingly rare, most are very early, prior to 10 weeks. I would not allow my daughter to watch a video of a TOP at school or anywhere else, however when the time comes I will educate her about the right to choose and what it entails. That's my job. Not some religious sect.

[ReallyTired]

A simple word sums it "No!"

Schools should provide an impartial education on a very emotive topic which is completely beyond the maturity of most teens. Its a sad fact that unwanted pregnancy forces some children to grow up too soon and have to make horrendously difficult decision.

Pregnant teens need compassionate councelling to talk through their options rather than guilt tripping or scare tactics. Non pregnant teens need high quality PHSCE which involves being told what is involved with looking after a child and education on family planning/ contraception.

Teens need to feel confident that adults will help them and not berate them for making mistakes. The need to know where to seek early help if they have messed up.

[StraightLineOfResignation]

Surely its better than having no idea at all?

Oh well , I'm off I wish people would RTFT before posting.

[HolidayArmadillo]

And you know for some people an abortion just isn't a 'huge thing' it's merely the easiest solution to a problem.