Public is `working from 1950s model' of adoption

The idea of adoption should be "de-stigmatised" and the negative images from the 1950s and 1960s changed so women could at least…

The idea of adoption should be "de-stigmatised" and the negative images from the 1950s and 1960s changed so women could at least contemplate it as an alternative to abortion, the public hearings on abortion heard yesterday.

The Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution hearings resumed with a submission on providing alternatives to abortion.

Prof Patricia Casey, UCD, psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital, and Ms Breda O'Brien, a job-sharing teacher and a columnist with The Irish Times, said they were the organisers of a conference in September 1998 called "5,000 too many - reducing the abortion rate by providing real alternatives".

Pointing out that the abortion figure had now risen to 6,000, they stressed that no matter which option of those outlined in the Green Paper on abortion was eventually chosen, a concerted programme of action should be undertaken to try to reduce the numbers seeking abortions.

READ MORE

Prof Casey said she treated many women who had abortions and suffered adverse consequences.

Speaking on adoption, she said she was struck by the fact that the public seemed to be ignorant about adoption and was working out of an adoption model from the 1950s which was harsh and cruel. "There is a huge job to be done in informing the public and informing women about modern adoption and how it works," she said.

There was also a need for training of all personnel in contact with women in crisis pregnancies to be familiar with adoption procedures.

One problem was the lack of resources of many adoption agencies which were now channelling all resources to contact tracing.

Adoption would never again be a majority option but it could be the best option for significantly more women, particularly with the emphasis now on open adoption. Many women were negative towards even contemplating it. There was a pressing need to provide women with information on all options.

Ms O'Brien said information was vital. "The most common complaint of women worldwide who regret having an abortion was `Why wasn't I told?' "

Prof Casey said: "We should begin to de-stigmatise adoption." She was not, however, suggesting that adoption would solve the problems.

Ms O'Brien said the high qualifications demanded by the Eastern Regional Health Authority for counsellors indicated it did not seem to understand the nature of pregnancy counselling. It was different from other counselling. Crisis pregnancy was short-lived and very different skills were needed than for counselling in other areas.