Is abortion really an essential service during COVID-19 pandemic?

OTTAWA – One of Canada’s most prominent pro-life organizations is slamming health authorities in Canada for treating abortion services as an essential service, while elective surgeries and other non-emergency medical services are cancelled to marshal resources to treat victims of COVID-19 and stop the spread of the deadly virus.

“We are in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis. With the rapid spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 across the globe and across our country, our scant health care resources – which are tightly rationed at the best of times – are being stretched to their breaking point,” said Campaign Life Coalition National Campaigns Manager David Cooke in a posting on the CLC’s website.

“So as people are being forced to stay home, forced to leave their jobs, forced to stay away from their churches, forced to postpone trips, meetings, and non-essential surgeries, why are some people being allowed the ‘choice’ of an elective abortion?” he said.

Cooke said with a national and global healthcare crisis it is “imperative” during the COVID-19 pandemic that the country be ready to treat the infected and maintain other essential health services.

“In order to achieve this goal, in many jurisdictions across North America, non-essential surgeries and elective medical procedures have been cancelled. Only the most urgent and essential procedures are being approved, which allows for critical medical supplies and workers to be redeployed where most needed,” he said.

“So why is it that one particular elective, non-essential medical procedure is being approved in every single province and territory across Canada? Why is it that one particular voluntary surgery is being given top priority during this pandemic?”

An extensive overview of access to abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic by CTV News on March 26 showed that across the country health authorities are treating abortion as an essential health service.

The World Health Organization has also made statements supporting treating abortion as an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Services related to reproductive health are considered to be part of essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Women's choices and rights to sexual and reproductive health care should be respected, irrespective of whether or not she has a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection,” a WHO statement said.

A coalition online petition to Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders, who oversee healthcare in Canada, is calling for the “necessary decision to shut down all elective abortions and all private abortion facilities immediately.” As of April 7, the petition was about 200 signatures short of its target of 5,000.

Meanwhile,  abortion rights activists are demanding that abortions continue regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We call on governments and health sectors to continue to ensure that abortion facilities remain open,” said a joint statement released March 30 by the National Abortion Federation Canada and Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights.

“The needs for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care do not go away in a crisis. Abortion is a time-sensitive, medically necessary intervention and cannot be deferred without profound consequences for pregnant people, their families, and the health system,” the statement said. “Our pandemic response must include sexual and reproductive health needs – as many cannot wait until ‘after’ COVID-19.”

The CLC’s petition and letter to the premiers dismisses that argument. “Please do not be deceived by what some political activists are telling you. Despite their claims, abortion is not an essential service,” the CLC petition said.

“Pregnancy is not a ‘disease’ that needs to be ‘cured.’ Abortion is an elective ‘choice’ for ‘pro-choice’ women who decide they no longer wish to be pregnant. It is not medically necessary, nor is it a prescribed treatment for any ailment.”