Common Sense in Canada

CALGARY HERALD, Feb. 26 — One of Calgary’s mainstream newspapers wants to see a limit on how far into pregnancies abortions may be done in Canada.

In an editorial published on Sunday, Feb. 26, the Calgary Herald said it’s time Canada follows the example of most Western nations in imposing some legal restrictions on abortions. The article relates the various limits of 12 to 24 weeks gestation in place in European nations as examples to emulate.

The editorial stated: “It is absurd that, alone among its peers, Canadians cannot create a moderate, well-conceived law regulating when, and under what circumstances, a pregnancy can be terminated.”

Shaming Works

THE TELEGRAPH, March 1 — An Indian health official’s personal campaign to halt the disastrous abortion rates of baby girls in the Punjab state has been successful.

Khrishan Kumar, a deputy commissioner, began publicly shaming parents who aborted, or considered aborting, baby girls for no other reason than their not being boys.

Ultrasounds for sex determination have been illegal in India since 1994, but cultural preferences for male children have led people to widely override the law.

Kumar started a list of women who had obtained ultrasounds or were known to be considering abortion, and then, along with a group of volunteers, staged surprise visits and phone calls to deter them.

In December 2004, the birth rate in Khothran was 787 girls for every 1,000 boys. By December 2005, the number had risen to 897. The birth rate of girls should normally slightly exceed that of boys.

Brit Couple Chooses Life

SUNDERLAND TODAY, March 5 — Though a doctor initially predicted their unborn baby might not survive pregnancy or live long after birth, a British couple is thankful they followed their instincts and refused to have an abortion.

After being asked for a second opinion, Dr. Stephen Sturgis told Stacy Jackson and Lee Scott that their unborn son Jaxon had “fluid on the brain” and ventriculomegaly, a condition that enlarges some parts of the brain.

“Dr. Sturgis said there was a 60% chance of him being all right and we decided to give our baby that chance,” Lee told the newsmagazine.

Jaxon was born on Dec. 20 and an MRI scan a few days later showed no brain damage, though some fluid had to be drained from the baby’s brain.