Welcome inside the only abortion clinic in central Newfoundland, in an area commonly referred to as the province’s “Bible Belt.”
Juanita, the day’s first patient, already has two children, both conceived while she was on birth control. “I’m hyperfertile,” laughs the single mom, with a shrug. Coffee in hand, after travelling seven hours by road the day before, she’s here for her third abortion. [CBC/Radio-Canada is protecting the identity of patients, like Juanita, and local clinic workers, who asked to speak confidentially. CBC News was allowed to attend the clinic on the condition of not identifying its exact location.]
Three years ago, when Juanita tried to have her tubes tied, her local obstetrician refused. “She said, ‘You’re too young.’ Like, that’s not your choice,” she says. She pauses. “Who are they really working for?”
That reminds me of when I tried to get a vasectomy, my family doctor refused to refer me to the surgery saying I was too young and could change my mind.
10 years later, well I still didn’t change my mind.
People make bad decisions all the time. Far worse than maybe adopting instead of procreating. Where were the babysitters when I was doing actual stupid stuff?
