Abortion row: MP 'out of touch'

By REBECCA WALSH


Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope has accused National's Judith Collins of being out of touch with her own party and the medical community with her proposal to change abortion laws for underage girls.

Ms Collins wants a law change to make it mandatory for doctors to tell parents if a girl under 16 seeks an abortion.

Yesterday the Herald published results of a DigiPoll survey that showed seven out of 10 people would want to be told if their underage daughter had sought an abortion, even if the girl did not want them to know.

Asked if it should be mandatory for the doctor to tell the girl's parents the number in favour dropped to just under 61 per cent.

Ms Collins said the results indicated the Government was "seriously out of touch" with parents.

A select committee report on the Care of Children Bill has recommended keeping the status quo.

Yesterday Mr Benson-Pope said National's caucus had rejected Ms Collins' Supplementary Order Paper as a party issue and forced it to become a conscience vote.

"I understand there is a large faction within National who appreciate the complexity of these issues and who see Ms Collins' agenda as an attack on both vulnerable young women and medical ethics," said Mr Benson-Pope.

"It is extraordinary that National's health spokesperson has taken up a position attacking the professional judgment and clinical experience of this country's medical professionals."

This month the Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners wrote to all MPs urging them not to support Ms Collins' proposal.

They gave a warning that it could lead to girls seeking dangerous, illegal abortions.

Mr Benson-Pope said that as the father of a teenage daughter he understood the results of the Herald-DigiPoll but he said the medical profession already encouraged young women to talk to their parents or another adult and most did. For some girls in violent or abusive situations that was not an option.

Ms Collins said yesterday that the Government continued to show a cavalier disregard for the rights of parents.

"Is Mr Benson-Pope really prepared to ignore that vast majority when he claims to understand them, or is he just saying the public are incapable of forming their own opinions?"

Ms Collins said it was clear Mr Benson-Pope was acting on instructions "from above" to shut parents out of the process.

"Helen Clark has certainly made no secret of her opposition to the law change. The question now is whether she will permit her MPs to vote with their consciences on this matter."