Update on Dumont Hospital Following Board Meeting of June 21/06 

! A pro-life demonstration took place June 21 outside the Dr. Georges Dumont Hospital in Moncton, to protest the commencement of abortions there after July 1. Earlier this month NB health minister Brad Green announced he had found two hospitals to perform abortions following the planned June 30 stoppage at the Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton where 400 of the 404 provincial hospital abortions in 2005 were carried out.  NB Right to Life believes the Dumont Hospital is one of the two.  

! About 50 people took part, including Richard Doucette, State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus. Meanwhile other pro-lifers were praying inside the hospital or attending the annual meeting of the hospital’s Board of Trustees. Overall at least 75 pro-life supporters were present at the hospital. Catholic archbishop André Richard, csc, attended the Board of Trustees meeting. 

! A number of media representatives were present.  

!  Participants in the demonstration held Acadian flags and signs including “Let Our Acadian Babies Live” and “Hospitals Are for Saving Life Not Destroying It.” The Acadian hymn “Ave Marie Stella” was also sung. Fr. Donald Arsenault led a prayer.  

!  At the Board of Trustees meeting the chairman, Adélard Cormier, stated there is no change in the hospital’s abortion policy. He read the policy aloud. It allows for abortions when there is risk to a woman’s life or health, or when the unborn baby is disabled.   

!  Several comments from the audience were made, all pro-life.  

!  Archbishop Richard expressed satisfaction that the hospital’s policy was not changing in a pro-abortion direction.  

!  NB Right to Life executive director, Peter Ryan, also speaking for the Knights of Columbus, expressed concern that the policy would allow an individual physician to interpret “health” broadly, such as happened at the Chalmers Hospital under a similar policy. He therefore asked if an expanded abortion practice was anticipated for the hospital in the near future. He did not receive an answer.

 !  Two women offered moving testimonies for life. One told how her doctor offered her an abortion because of fetal abnormality. She refused. She now has a young son, full of life and a joy to his family despite some physical limitations. The second woman spoke of how her past abortion had affected her. Both women received loud applause.  

!  Also present among pro-life supporters was a daughter of Dr. Georges Dumont, the hospital’s patron. 

 !  Acting hospital director Dr. Simard promised to pass on the public comments to the medical staff.

CONCLUSION 

!  NB Right to Life continues to be very concerned that an expanded abortion practice will take place soon at the Dumont Hospital.

 ! The hospital’s abortion policy should be revised to afford full protection for the life of every unborn child.