Supporters of the National Abortion Campaign picket doctors attending the DHSS-financed International Conference of Doctors wh‹ I had been taking the pill, but when my even more fertile, and 1 became pregnant we all dofor reasons of money and political securare more vulnerable if they want to be involved in politics. Of course I couldn't tell my parents I was pregnant, I bought some pills but they didn't work. I was A medical student comrade gave me an injection to induce a miserriage, but about three months along and very scared. There was no way that I could raise a • Couldn't you find any doctors in proof to jail us all.
There have been many arrests of doctors recently, and for performing abortions some are still in practice and others have lost their entire practice. There are some *trendy lefty' gynaecologists, but they tion. wont do it unless you nave lots or mone and they know you. Many women go to I had money problems, but worse still 1 had legal charges and a trial pending against me for "subversive propaganda". This meant I couldn't leave the country without being arrested when I came back into Spain. Then I telephoned a conmadrona (neighbourhood abortionist, untrained nurse) who refused me at first, not because of money, but because she was afraid of mv family. 1 dressed up in nice clothes and tried to look older than 18. I told here I was 21 - - she seemea te believe me and then took the money. about 1700 pesetas (E17). • Can you describe wnat happened? I went to the conmadrona's office, which had a few instruments and a hard wooden table. A nurse and a doctor were also present, but the conmadrona did all the work. She gave me some small injections in my legs, but nothing to knock me out. She had been raided several times already and knew that if the police came while I was unconscious they would have the The abortion itself lasted at least three hours. I cannot describe the pain - I had twins and because 1 am very narrow they had to use forceps. And even then they didn't do a complete abor • How did they treat you? You know it's funny, the doctor was Respect Human Life' in Birmingham last Saturday. As well as protesting against this misuse of much needed health service money, pickets pointed out that the anti-abortionist doctors apparent concern tor human lite didn t seem to extena to women forced 10 9° I very much against abortion and he didn't hide his feelings. But the two women were very feminist in their own way. They kept telling me how brave I was and they made jokes You may think that's terrible, but they weren't being mean, they just made me feel better.
• And afterwards?
They gave me antibiotics, but 1 kept bleeding and discharging foetal matter 1 coman to to a cunk because unc would have known that I had just had an abortion. For that I could be put in jail.
Thad told my parents that I was spending the weekend at my girl-friend's house, and on the Monday I had to go back to work or lose my job. But the pain kept coming back as if I were re uving ine whole expenence, The conmadrona told me to call back if there were any complications. I tried After about 40 days the bleeding stopped and I was all right. I was lucky - many women die by themselves.
• Did you tell your boy-friend? Only afterwards. He was going out with a lot or omer guis any way. tie was toe immature to understand.
red weekly 25 september 1975 labour party 5
----- pull-quotes -----
TION RICH JUDE!