Abortion - angry and want to harness it!

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

I'm naive I know - I'm a feminist but thought that in 2016 seeking to end an unwanted pregnancy would be straightforward. I'm 37, and earlier this week found out I was pregnant.

I made an appt with my GP. She refused to refer me on religious grounds. Saw another doctor in the practice. He gave me a scrappy leaflet and a scribbled number to refer to Marie Stopes. I would have gone straight there but understood that I needed an NHS referral to secure funding.

Marie Stopes can't see me for a while, and my local clinic can't offer both medical and surgical abortions, so I go to BPAS instead. At BPAS decide that I want the medical, but my local MS clinic can't then take me for the treatment, I'd need to go through a consultation again from the beginning.
Although this pregnancy is unwanted, the whole thing is emotionally distressing. I just want it sorted as soon as possible.

It all feels so secretive and separate - in what other medical situation do you need to call a central booking line to organise treatment? And what medical treatment doesn't allow sharing of files between professional health carers? Am I missing something huge here?

If 1 in 3 women have an abortion in their lifetimes, then this is normal. Why can't I be booked into a clinic via my GP?

It shouldn't be so hard should it? What can I do to channel my anger? And for a women who can't get an abortion in the country they call home, that is an outrage. How do I get involved in campaigning?

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

This just came up on my live feed - I wasn't aware there were more comments, thank you all!

I've had the medical abortion and whilst I've found it upsetting I know it was absolutely the right choice for me and my family. BPAS were brilliant, kind, caring, non judgemental. Some of the stories recounted above are just horrific. How dare people be so cruel!

I talked through my GP experience with the BPAS nurse - she agreed that I should complain, not just for me but for future, more vulnerable women who a refusal at this early stage could result in them not seeking further help.

I'm still staggered that my GP of 10 years, who has seen me through severe ante natal anxiety in both pregnancies and is the mental health champion at the surgery, would put her own beliefs before a patient's wellbeing.

to you all

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

to you Bill, for complaining and helping sort things out for other women.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I'm still staggered that my GP of 10 years, who has seen me through severe ante natal anxiety in both pregnancies and is the mental health champion at the surgery, would put her own beliefs before a patient's wellbeing

That makes her position even more unreasonable.

[KindDogsTail]

Draenor meddie
I am so sorry you were treated in those cruel ways. It is unbelievable that people wouldn't want to help and forced you into positions where it all became even more difficult than it already was.

Apparently the MAP is much cheaper on the continent, something like £5
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/morning-after-pill-british-women-forced-to-pay-five-times-more-than-european-peers-a7019026.html

BillStickers you have been brave I hope you are OK.

[TooMuchMNTime]

Oh what an awful experience
I will def add this to the list for discussion with local MP
I've had a friend who didn't have her GP causing problems but felt that every step of the way was set up for her to change her mind. It is ridiculous and shocking that this happens in the 21st century.

As for that GP being the mental health champion, that's absurd. Did you see another GP immediately?

[5BlueHydrangea]

It's unfortunate what you have been through but you honestly think a GP should be forced to help you end the life of your unborn child if it is against their own beliefs/morals? You're not talking about general surgery, this is far more serious. That baby has a right to be considered in this too, whatever your feelings.

[Orwellschild]

5blue do fuck off. I was going to write something meaningful and deep but can't be arsed. billstickers I had a similar experience in my early twenties. I really wish I had complained at the time. Really hope you do. Glad you're ok.

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

Yes fiveblue I do. Abortion is legal in this country up to 24 weeks and if you're a doctor your personal beliefs shouldn't come into it. It's not a very efective refusal anyway - doctors can choose not to refer you but they must recommend another doctor who will. So they are still culpable in the referral process, but choose to extend this process to the distress of all involved.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Abortion Act - are we really still making it this hard to access?

[AngieBolen]

It is shocking and frustrating that abortion is so difficult to access.

I don't think GPs should have to refer you, but patients should be made aware which Doctors will or won't refer to save time.

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

Yes I've thought about that Angie - how might this work practically? So my GP might not see any women of child bearing age....not really workable.

Or the receptionist asks all women booking appointments what it's for, again I can't see that working in practice.

Or there's a note on the website - would everyone see this?

It just seems like a lot of extra processes which lengthened or obstruct access to abortion.

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

Lengthen or obstruct.

In my area women can't self refer to BPAS or Marie Stopes to access abortion on the NHS, they have to be referred via their GP. Maybe this is the bit that needs to change, although I'm guessing these orgs need official referrals to secure funding.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

When you join a practice, you usually get a wee leaflet with appointment times and things like that, don't you? It would be easy enough to put a note on that: due to Dr X's religious beliefs s/he prefers not to see women who are considering a termination of pregnancy. Please make an appointment with Drs Y and Z in these circumstances.

Would that work? It wouldn't catch everyone but it would be a start - and as a woman of child-bearing age I'd certainly make a mental note that one of the drs in the practice felt that way, even if I then forgot which one!

It's a pretty blunt message, but if GPs are going to arbitrarily opt out of a perfectly legal medical procedure then they shouldn't be afraid of being blunt about it, should they?

[TooMuchMNTime]

I don't think the GP should be able to refuse
No one is asking them to carry out the procedure.

[allegretto]

This thread is so shocking. I live in another eu country and remember seeing a dicumentary that tevealed some doctors were objecting on moral grounds thus forcing women to pay privately - and then the same dr agreed to do it and pocketed the money I am angry for all of you who have had this shoddy and illegal treatment.

[allegretto]

Btw in related issues my dr told me that she wouldn't refer my dh for a vasectomy as they are illegal. They're not but she doesn't agree with them.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Toomuch I agree, but at the moment they can refuse and I think it's infinitely better to have a clear refusal upfront than to go through Jilly's experience upthread: I had a similar experience, OP, except the doctor wouldn't actually admit that she was conscientiously objecting - she just obfuscated and tried to put me off and ended up giving me a phone number that was wrong.

[BertieBeats]

I went straight to BPAS when I had a termination but still got it as NHS. They ask at the first meeting.