Everything we do involves some risk, and to be forewarned is forearmed. So one would assume important medical procedures would come with detailed risk information. But when that procedure means high monetary profit—and power to a feminist movement—the explanation of risks are vacuous at best and downright lies at worst. Ironic that the feminist movement doesn’t demand women receive information crucial to their health. Aborting a baby is sold as a safe “quick fix,” a disposable inconvenience. The only thing quick is the money transfer to the provider’s bank account, while the post-abortive woman faces a lifetime of damage.
Writer and director B. Keith Neely brought us Wounded and Abandoned: The Emotional Risks of Abortion and is just as thorough with this documentary investigating the physical risks of abortion. Experts and clinicians explain their findings of physical repercussions of having an abortion. Survivors relate their personal experiences of the effects of abortion in their lives, some quite horrific. Each describes the lack of information with which they were forced to make a decision. They felt the abortion doctors, nurses and counselors deliberately downplayed and veiled the true and dire risks. Nothing was said of the risks of hemorrhaging, infertility, sepsis, pelvic inflammation disease, future ectopic pregnancies and proven links to breast cancer. Premature birth, cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorders in future children were certainly not on the abortion provider’s list of possible complications.
A very relevant aspect of the abortion industry is the process of getting informed consent. Neely’s documentary addresses the intentionally difficult legalese of an abortion consent form, designed not to be understood. A frightened, emotional young woman could barely find the line to sign much less understand the deliberately convoluted wording. According to one expert, “Doctors are guilty of malpractice if they don’t get an informed consent.” Keywords: malpractice, informed. This documentary will equip and enlighten. However, due to the subject matter of this film, it isn’t appropriate for younger children, and the Dove Foundation awards it the 12+ Seal.
The Dove take
Very little information is given to women by abortion providers regarding the physical risks and repercussions of having an abortion. This life-changing information is often hidden, and consent is dubiously extracted from prospective women.
What to talk about
The feminist movement not protecting women with relevant medical abortion information, the problems faced by future children of post-abortive women and the call to use malpractice suits against providers who don’t clearly inform of the risks.
