London, England, Mar 17, 2008 / 23:02 pm
A British medical organization has warned that women who have abortions may be at risk for mental health breakdowns, the Times reports.
In a statement released on March 14, the Royal College of Psychiatrists said that women should not be allowed to have abortions until they are counseled on the procedure’s possible risks to their mental health. Several recent studies have concluded that abortion in young women might be associated with mental health risks.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ statement recommended adding details about the risks of depression to abortion information leaflets. “Consent cannot be informed without the provision of adequate and appropriate information,” it said.
Nadine Dorries, a Conservative MP campaigning for a waiting period for women considering abortion, welcomed the college’s revised stance. “For doctors to process a woman’s request for an abortion without providing the support, information and help women need at this time of crisis I regard almost as a form of abuse,” she said, according to the Times.