British health worker disciplined for asking colleagues to consider abortion's impact

January 17, 2011

A Catholic mental-health worker in Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) has been suspended after encouraging colleagues to read material about the psychological impact of abortion on women.

Margaret Forrester, who has frequently provided counseling for women dealing with the emotional impact of abortion, asked colleagues to read about the issue because she feared that women were being encouraged to abort their children without being educated about the possible consequences. But administrators at the Central North West London Mental Health Trust charges that she was “distributing materials some people may find offensive.” She now faces disciplinary action, and may lose her position.

Forrester notes that she raised the issues with NHS colleagues, not with patients, and only in a friendly conversation. The booklet that she entitled them to read, Forsaken, discusses post-abortion syndrome without reference to religious issues, concentrating instead on the psychological welfare of the women considering abortion.

 

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Further information:

• Christian health worker Margaret Forrester faces sack over anti-abortion booklet (Daily Telegraph)
• Christian NHS worker faces sack over abortion leaflet (Evening Standard)
• Forsaken