Abortion Supervisory Committee – Appointments

Right to Life calls upon the Minister of Justice to withdraw the name of Dr Rosemary Fenwicke from re appointment to the Abortion Supervisory Committee on the grounds that she represents a serious and substantial conflict of interest.

The Committee is made up of three persons, Professor Dame Linda Holloway, chair, Dr Rosemary Fenwicke and Rev Patricia Allan. Two of the Committee are required to be registered medical practitioners. The members are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of Parliament. The term of their appointment is for three years and they may be reappointed by Parliament. The current members of the Committee were appointed on 14 June 2007. Their term will expire on 14 June 2010. They were nominated by the pro abortion Helen Clarke Labour government who withdrew the conscience vote of members of the government to ensure that her nominations were appointed. It is expected that the members appointed passed the litmus test of being supportive of abortion. The Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act, s 10 requires that the Minister of Justice bring a motion to the House for appointment to the Committee.

Parliament is responsible to the people of New Zealand for appointing persons to this Committee that they have confidence in. Parliament should be aware that there are many people in New Zealand who are extremely concerned at the appointment of Dr Rosemary Fenwicke to this Committee which is required to supervise the abortion industry.

Our Society is greatly concerned that a member of this very important Committee responsible for supervising the performance of abortions in New Zealand, ensuring that abortions authorised by certifying consultants are lawful, appointing certifying consultants and issuing abortion licences to hospitals and clinics, has a substantial conflict of interest.

Dr Rosemary Fenwicke is a member of the Abortion Supervisory Committee, she is a certifying consultant empowered to authorise the killing of unborn children and is an abortionist at the Level J abortion clinic at the Wellington Hospital.

This is the second busiest abortion facility in New Zealand. In 2008 there were 2,867 abortions performed at Level J abortion facility. It is the opinion of this Society that she represents a substantial conflict of interest. The Committee on which she sits has the duty of upholding the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act, the long title of this Act states that abortions may be authorised only after full regard is given to the rights of unborn children, the Committee also has the statutory duty to oversee the administration of the abortion laws in New Zealand and to supervise certifying consultants to ensure that abortions authorised in New Zealand are lawful. How can she fulfil her duties as a member of the Committee while engaging as a certifying consultant and an operating surgeon at the Level J abortion clinic? Dr Fenwicke also receives a substantial amount of her income from this Committee for authorising abortions.

The Family Planning Association is the major abortion referral agency in New Zealand which supports girls under the age of 16 having an abortion without the knowledge or consent of parents or guardian.

Dr Fenwicke from 1987 to 1990 was the medical director of the central region of the Family Planning Association. The Association is a loyal affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation that promotes abortion worldwide in the stated belief that abortion, the killing of an innocent and defenceless unborn child is a human right. It is believed that Dr Fenwicke is still a member of the FPA. Right to Life contends that because of the pro–abortion policy of the Association that it is highly inappropriate for Dr Fenwicke or any other member of the Association to be appointed to the Abortion Supervisory Committee.

Justice Miller in his judgment delivered in the High Court in Wellington in the judicial review of the Performance of the Committee stated that “there is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants. Indeed the Committee has stated that the law is being used more liberally interpreted than parliament intended.” He also stated that “the Committee does in fact have the power to require certifying consultants to keep records and report on cases they have considered.” He went on to state “the abortion law asserts a state interest in protecting the unborn child and not merely an interest that women may have safe and legal abortions. The law precludes abortion on request and as a matter between the woman and her own doctor.” It is mentioned that this judgment has been appealed by the Committee and will be heard by the Court of Appeal on the 5th and 6th of October 2010. In the event of the Committee’s appeal not succeeding it will be the duty of the Committee to implement the judgment of the Court. It is therefore imperative that the government appoint members to the Committee, who will in the interest of the women of New Zealand and their unborn children, implement the judgment of the Court.

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc,

ends

© Scoop Media