PRO-CHOICE OR PRO-LIFE? WHICH WAY FOR A GYNECOLOGIST.
Are we adopting too much of Western ways and cultures? I was seduced into TikTok a few weeks ago after a lot of resistance for years; I felt like the app spoke more to the much younger generation, and I had been warned that it is potentially very addictive. I avoided it at all costs till I couldn’t anymore—the world was rolling fast on the platform. Their videos self-edit automatically, filters make one not have to worry about makeup or looking too ‘unfresh,’ and the short videos can be catchy. I literally post in my car at the parking lot before getting to work or home. It mostly takes me a maximum of 5 minutes to shoot, edit, and post; then I discipline myself not to touch the app between work or family time.
I posted a video on my views on abortion, and it generated a lot of traffic. 50% affirmed my stand, but 30% bashed and condemned me thoroughly( some even abused me), and the other 20% didn’t care. I remember one Sunday peeping in, and it had attracted 2000 views; by the time I was done clearing the breakfast table, the views had shot to over 10,000 views…
I found it funny that I had to explain and apologize for using the constitution and mostly my religious principles to decide that offering abortion services wasn’t something I was comfortable doing; it spoke against my values as a person, as a religious being and as a doctor. I wasn’t enforcing my principles to the patients; I just wasn’t comfortable participating in it; they were free to seek their services elsewhere with no judgment from me.
I had to justify and rejustify in my comments to pro-choice persons. Since when did our society become so liberated that abortion is now something that can be discussed and directed freely with parents/family on a dinner table? You see, growing up, we spoke of abstinence or in the extreme case, family planning—abortion was considered a no-go zone.No parent would suggest or even take their daughter for abortion services. Nowadays, we have normalized it so much that I dare say it could be unfortunately considered a form of birth control soon.
Have I conducted an abortion before? Yes, but only in cases where pregnancies had a zero chance of baby survival, like severe life-incompatible congenital anomalies. Secondly, in cases of severe physical harm to the mother—this is in the case of severe life-threatening pregnancy conditions appearing too early for fetal viability and causing grave continuous harm to the mother, e.g., severe pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome at 21 weeks.
Growing up, I thought our new constitution was very clear on abortion.
Abortion in Kenya is regulated by Article 26(4) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which states that: “Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is a need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.” As I have come to learn, the last statement on maternal well-being has been abused thoroughly to sometimes force issues on possible maternal mental health.
I am a big champion of mental health, especially in cases of sexual abuse, but our people have ridden on the full definition of health to sometimes abuse the law. Say a case of a girl telling me, “Chali yangu ameniruka, Sasa niko na depression and can’t keep it. Tungekuwa pamoja ama ningekuwa na job ningezaa.” I have never had to handle an abortion request from a rape case but if it happens , I’ll make a balanced decision – I hope to not encounter this because it’s very tricky clinical scenario.
I was bashed so harshly for stating that as a Muslim doctor, I’m not comfortable offering the service.I still stand by this statement; this doesn’t mean the opposite for persons in other religions. Maybe I should have phrased it as “my principles” and not the religion part – good lesson learned . In the event we change our constitution to legalize abortion , I would still refer the patient to the next available doctor. It becomes very tough in matters of “pro-choice or pro-life” to not apply one’s principles and consciousness.
It’s the same pro-choice persons who would roast you and take legal actions if a favor of offering an abortion goes very wrong. When do we separate our religiousness from our jobs? Looking back, maybe I should have said, “According to my personal principles….” But why is it that we allow our Catholic colleagues to state that according to their religious practices, they don’t offer contraception/abortion etc ?
It’s a tough topic and a tough balance.
Back to my TikTok, I decided to change the privacy settings of the video from public to private—I didn’t want such traffic to my page. Such topics sell a page very fast, but my intention has always been to teach and never for traffic, fame, or controversy; I’m just a simple bunduz gynecologist.
Do you support the “pro-choice” direction that our society is taking? Are we ready? What if instead we ensured seamless family planning availability and free condoms? What stop-gap measures do we put in place to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand? What about our medical council? Would it protect a doctor for being pro-choice for possible unobjectified mother stress if something goes south or if the patient sues later in regret ?
Also on the hand of the devils advocate ? Does denying safe abortion equate to risking unsafe termination practices for some of our girls ? Where is the balance ? Does keeping unplanned pregnancies equate to a dwindling future economy/standard of living for an individual and a nation ?
It’s a tough one!!! The world is changing very fast—do we embrace everything Western or do we sift? Maybe it’s very good that I had posted it because it has provoked a thought process in me and this wonderful write-up.