2009-07-25
Action Alert!
Running Marie Stopes Ads in the Irish Medical Times (IMT) is Support for Abortion!
Family & Life is deeply concerned that the Irish Medical Times has recently begun publishing advertisements for Marie Stopes International, a major British abortion business. We support Dr P. J. K. Conway, Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, who wrote to the IMT to express his objections to the Marie Stopes abortion ad on the grounds that “[abortion’s] medical effects on the two people involved are death for the innocent baby, and grief and serious physical diseases for the mother (damage to reproductive potential; an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future). But more seriously, she is at increased risk of future mental illness (suicide; substance abuse — both alcohol and drugs; there is also increased chance of emotional problems — depression, etc)…”
In defence of the abortion ad, Terence Cosgrave, the editor claims: “I have no control over who advertises in (sic) Irish Medical Times. Advertisers in the paper are subject to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association’s rules and the Irish Advertising Standards and Codes of Practice. … we cannot dictate to our advertisers who will advertise what, where and when.” Family & Life rejects this excuse for accepting advertising, the sole aim of which is to terminate early human life. The ad is arguably in violation of the Code of the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland as well as the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State For Termination of Pregnancies) Act, 1995.
We ask readers to voice their strongest objections against the IMT providing and supporting a platform for abortionists to advertise in Ireland by contacting David Kelly, Publisher of the Irish Medical Times: david.kelly@imt.ie, Tel: 01 8176380. Complaints from medical doctors will carry particular weight so if you are not a doctor yourself, but have family members or friends who are, please ask them to object to these ads. At a time when pro-life organisations have managed to reduce the number of abortions on Irish residents for the seventh consecutive year, it is a disgrace that a reputable journal such as the IMT would then permit a UK abortion ‘provider’ to advertise for business.