In her letter 'Public policy must protect public health', published yesterday, Jennifer Jones contends that allowing abortion for "contraceptive failure, rape, incest, an abusive relationship, health risks to the mother" should be allowed. That would be pure and simple "abortion on demand". If women are allowed to abort for any reason (and at any stage of pregnancy as the Abortion Policy Review Group's recommendations suggest), we would certainly be on the road of irresponsible sexual behaviour.

It's a fact that many of our young women already abuse the so-called 'morning-after pill', which makes them prone to end up at a public health clinic with complications. Legalised abortion would only invite more carelessness.

Abortion effects

Abortion can trigger a host of problems for a woman: possible infection, infertility, depression, increased risk of breast cancer, suicidal tendencies, relationship troubles, and sexual difficulties. When this occurs, and treatment is required, public-health facilities (taxpayers) have to carry the financial burden. Will abortion thus improve the health of a woman or our health system? The call for counselling before abortion may sound good. How would Jamaica's health system offer this service? If so-called developed nations were unable to do so, how could we expect Jamaica to perform in this respect?

I agree that some women may try to abort, whether forbidden or not; but, it's not so much in 'back-street' as one would want us to believe. So far, most abortions in Jamaica are done by well-established doctors, and one may be surprised to know that this is also the case for the poorer population.

We know that many people drive fast, despite traffic laws. Do we abolish traffic laws? We know that killing is a crime and send the murderers to jail. People steal; and, because they do all this, do we abolish our criminal justice system? People's irresponsible beha-viour is no reason to abolish all laws. And, in the case of abuse and incest, nothing is better for the abuser than sending the woman to abort, thus covering the evidence and continuing the abuse. On whose side would we be on? I'd rather protect the weak than allow the abuser to continue.

I am, etc.,

Anne Arthur