CathNews New Zealand

Southlanders for Life has accused the Southern District Health Board of being deliberately secretive during the process of establishing an abortion service in Invercargill.

Southlanders for Life spokesman Father Vaughan Leslie said the group was so disturbed by the lack of consultation with the public by the health board that a formal complaint would be laid with the ombudsman against the health board.

“The grounds for the complaint are the decision to implement this controversial service is being done without appropriate and required community communication and dialogue,”  Leslie said.

However, the health board said it was happy with the decision to go ahead with the service.

Acting chairman Paul Menzies said the board discussed the process undertaken to plan and approve the abortion service at Southland Hospital and was satisfied with its approach.

The abortion service is scheduled to begin before the end of this month but will depend on referrals, a health board spokesman said.

Source

• The Southland Times
• Image: Screen Shot The Tablet

Additional reading

• 400 protest Southland abortion licence
• Opposition to abortion policy grows
• In support of abortion clinic in Southland

News category: New Zealand.