Abortion
counseling,
practices
discussed
"There is no abortion issue in my experience, there are only
real people in real situations with real names," according to Rev.
Larry Doerr who spoke during the second session of the aLioition
conference, "Beyond Conception."
"Often there is a subtle, anti sex punitive psychology that
goes into aboition opinions," he said. He said that often these
ideas extend to related matters such as birth-control and child
care center support.
Doerr, a Protestant minister, said that he believed many past
abortion laws were "class legislation," because those who could
afford an abortion could always get one.
"Many abortion laws were in part directed against the poor,
and in more recent times against the young," he said.
Doerr emphasized that he believes personal consideration of
the decision whether to undergo an abortion has never been more
anguished or thoughtful. "One thing I have not M-en is a
casualness about the issue," he said.
He commented that often when he counsels students, wo-icn
are hesitant to consider the effect on themselves. T fit y say too
often, 'if I consider myself I am selfish'- not true."
Doerr explained that he never tries to impose his M:rsonal
beliefs on any of the students whom he counsels, but he tries to
suggest some considerations for them to use in making the
decision.
"The question of morality can only be realized in a particulat
situation and the total context around that situation," he said.
Doerr said he regards his personal conviction as pi o life
defined in a total sense. He said that to him, life is a continimr
from fullness of life on one end to no life at the other.
"There ate no perfect choices," he reiterated. "Then; is no
situation in which life in the total sense can be maximized."
Doerr said that making decisions on an individual basis as
opposed to set rules is "not easier, not an escape it's just a hell
of a lot harder."
Doerr responded to one student's question about the
availability of abortions, saying he could never condone an
abortion decision made solely on the basis of "ease "
Doerr said that with the liberalization of abortion Lnvs, most
counselors have encountered less guilt feelings over a decision to
have an abortion.
Registered nurse Matt Faier agreed. Faier is the manager and
chief anethesiologist at the Omaha clinic, "Women's Sei vices,"
which provides aboition services.
"If a woman is not predisposed to mental instability, she i:
unlikely to experience it afterwords," he said.
Faier arrived at the symposium after encountering picket lines
at the Omaha clinic. Drs. William G. Orr and Marvin Deitrich,
who staff the clinic, both members of the University of Nebraska
College of Medicine faculty, have filed an injunction against the
limitations placed on abortions by the MU Board of Regents.
Faier noted that abortion has lx;en established as a valid, : afe
medical procedure. He said Woman's Services was opened to
provide abortions for Nebraska residents, although many persons
from out of state have visited the clinic.
..JTy rjinic has been open since Aug. 10, Faier said. Since' that
riate' proximately 700 to 800 women have had appointments
with clinic staffers. Not all of them have had abortions, he said.
All patients of the clinic must go through one of the
professional counselors before an abortion can be obtained, he
said. However it is up to the individual patient to determine the
0 .
Campus minister Larry Doerr spoke Wednesday about
the individual decision of abortion.
degree of counseling she needs. "We don't force counseling down
people's throats," Faier said.
Faier explained that the focus of the clinic is outpatient :
service with more than half of its offices devoted to it. Eventually
Woman's Services hopes to expand to all areas of outpatient care
for women, he said.
Faier revealed some approximate statistics of patients during
the period Aug. 16 to Oct. 16. He said the youngest patients were
12-yeais old while the oldest were in their middle 40's. During
that time period, 555 people were serviced by the clinic.
Forty-four per cent of the women were under age 19, he said.
Twenty-five per cent were between the ages of 20 and 23, he said.
Women more than 30 numbered 14 per cent of the total
figure, Faier said.
He disclosed that two-thirds of the women were of Protestant
faiths, while one-fourth were Catholic. Faier added that women
v ho give no religion were not necessarily giving all of the data
about themselves.
Eighteen per cent of the women were married, compared to
60 per cent who said they were single, he said. Faier said he
suspected many of the married women claimed they were single,
so their husbands would not have to approve the abortion
decision, as is Nebraska law. "We don't check marriage licenses,"
he said.
Abortions performed at the clinic are done during the first
trimester of pregnancy and abortions after that are done through
the' NU Medical Center hospital by Drs. Deitrich and Orr, he said.
he said.
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DA IT.
TECHNOLOGY ISTHE ENEMY:
GREAT BATTLES IN HISTORY
Nov 15 and 29; Jan 17-weekly thereafter
each I hurs -terminating on Mar 1, 1974
TIME: 1230 1330 PLACE: M&N Building
INSTRUCTORS: CPT Julian & CPT Romero, 47
Courtesy: Military Science Department, COL Pazderka
l h.., M..-. ti !.. tun... tra.es the effect of technohgic al advances upon
' " i'-'ltie, frorn ttj ,i.)th of knighthood at Crecy tu th.) silent
'!' ' h""',,'i "" Moll'"'d. I he lectures will key on those battles
-"' 11 ' l" coiiMdered turning points in the evoltilion ot tactu s and
'"'I'1"!
NATIONAL SECURITY IN A CHANGING
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
DATES: Nov 15 and 19; Jan 1 7 weekly thereafter,
each rhurs-tcrminatingon Mar 7, 1974.
il'nnn!330 PLACE: Morrin Hall Auditorium
iKo l H ULTORS: Guest Lecturers from Poli Sci Dept.
Moderator: M.ijor Bickel, 472-2468
Courtev: Military Science Department, COL Pazderka
; ';' ""' I'V 'he Polinr.al : ,e,,, o,J,.i tmenl -iesigned to
' 1 '" ' ' "lm of , US Defense t stabhshmcn, an.) its
"ie hi i.i , ioreign relations.
()age 2
daily n'b: ;.k in
thursday, november 8 1973
