The Question (3): Do you think that the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and 48 hours waiting period would violate women’s right to abortion?
Most of the participants of faith-based and non-faith both in Taiwan and Singapore do not think that the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period would violate women’s right to abortion. And they indicate that abortion is a big decision and it relates to a life (Table 7: A30-A41) “People need advice when they need to do an important decision.” (Table 7: AF2) One Singaporean doctor provides a definition and clarifies the nature of the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period as “Counseling is provided by doctors and doctors are trained to help. Help itself should not be designed as a violating system. If it is violating then try to fix it. It's basically designed on mutual trust and common good.” (Table 7: of AF3)
One of the faith-based participants in Singapore emphasizes the concept of
“informed decision”. And a good decision needs to see things both good sine and bad side by saying “I must be informed all the information and facts. All the information must be available to me. Then I can make a better decision and to know why I have to go ahead…”(Table 7: AF6) But sometimes the unborn child is regarded as a tissue.
The participant is asking people need to know to make a right decision “How right is right?” (Table 7: AF6) And if the women have think of abortion thousands of time,
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why not to include the pre-abortion counseling and waiting period? “If the women have thought of it thousands of times, then the pre-abortion counseling makes no any sense, just go for it.” (Table 7: AF7)
Most participants consider that the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period could be helpful to make a right decision. “No, I don't think it is violating.
Women really need to re-think it. I mean before doing abortion. She really needs help.
I think the counseling could help. (Table 7: AF10)”; “I don't think it is violating. It could help and provide the chance to re-think about it.”(Table 7: AF11) “Yes, I think it could help to think about it, in order to come down to make a right decision.” (Table 7:
AF12) One participant think that pre-abortion counseling is both needy for both women who seek abortion and who is pregnant. “My perspective it is quite a need for both women who seek abortion and who is pregnant. For most Singaporean, they will criticize that the government is power, a strong authority, but in fact, most women, especially young girls and young women in Singapore, even married women, and widow women may need go through this because they might not know there are other choices.” He means adoption is rarely known by public. (Table 7: AF15)
All three participants of non-faith doctors of Singapore support the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period. They say “No. Abortion is a kind of destruction. It needs to rethink about it. I support the law and it helps. (Table 7: A23)”
“I don't think it's violating the women's reproductive right. It needs to reconsider and we have to understand why women demand abortion. As I know some choose it because of the financial problems and some for social problems. The pre-abortion counseling may provide the chance to face the problems and provide the possible resources. And the government could provide some financial aids and helps.” (Table 7:
A24) “No, it helps to face the related problems. I don't think it's a kind of violating.
It's part of law education. (Table 7: A25)”
All couples of non-faith participants of Singapore do not think that mandatory pre-abortion counseling and 48 waiting period are violating women’s right even though they have to make a painful decision. “No, I don't think it's a kind of violating women's right. Women have the right to make a better choice. The mandatory pre-abortion counseling and 48 waiting period could help women to make a better choice. “(Table 7: A28) It is “a good opportunity to re-consider the decision before performing the abortion. It also helps the family to make a better preparation for that.
I mean for abortion. It's not an easy decision.” (Table 7: A29)
Most of the participants of both faith-based and non-faith both in Taiwan do not think that the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period would violate
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women’s right to abortion. Both the faith-based and non-faith doctors indicates that mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period would Not Violate women’s autonomy and these institutional settings could help since abortion is an important decision. “No, I don’t think it violates women’s autonomy. Women could make their own decision while they receive the counseling (Table 7: BF1)”. “People need time to consider some very important decisions. (Table 7: BF2)” They have a little worry about it may function as formal process. “No, I don’t think it violates women’s autonomy, either. But again I concern if the government are really ready to do it or it’s just functioned as formal process. Then it’s useless (Table 7: B24)”.
Most of the faith-based and non-faith single female and male in Taiwan think that the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period would not violate women’s right to abortion. Some indicate that those claim the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period are like the noisy children easily get the sugar. “I think the government tends to give sugar to those who are noisy. It is not good. Those noises are not the truth (Table 7: B13)”. And suggest men and husbands also need to receive pre-abortion counselling. “I think the radical feminists are just some few minorities. I don’t think they could really represent the most majorities of the women. I prefer to support the pre-abortion counselling. And I suggest that men also need it (Table 7: B14, B25)” Some notice that the concept of liberty has been over-emphasized in Taiwan. We need some rules to weight the problem and help the families before demanding abortion. “I do worry about that our society over-emphasized the liberty. I think that the liberty still needs some rules. I even want the husband could also have a pre-abortion counseling.” (Table 7: B25) “I think not many women are radical and it could help the families to think more before demanding an abortion. (Table 7: B28)” “The mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period are helpful to weight the problem in a more proper way. (Table 7:
B26)”
The faith-based teen boys and non-faith teen boys in Taiwan tend to think the mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period would not violate women’s right to abortion. “… like when we teens we need our parents’ advice. Parent’s advice usually helps us, and they are always standing by us. They basically would like to give us the best…(Table 7: B20)” And “We cannot make a decision within a short time.
Actually, we all need to think about this question seriously (Table 7: B21)” They think that we cannot only one side “Women need to re-think about it. And the government needs to help the unborn child. I think it is a good. (Table 7: B41)” The mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period could provide a balanced way of thinking.
“Yes, I think we need a more balanced way of thinking of this problem. Pre-abortion
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counseling and waiting period could provide us to re-think of it more balanced. (Table 7: B40)
The doctor in Taiwan may not acknowledge how Singapore government practice the he mandatory pre-abortion counseling and waiting period but affirm it. The doctors in Taiwan do not regard these institutional settings as violating women’s right to abortion. “No, I don't think so, though I do not know how they function. Is it by doctors or by religious professionals, right? I think counseling could help women, couples, and teens to re-think about it. (Table7: BF2) Furthermore, from the perspectives of participants from faith-based focus group of Singapore, “the pre-abortion counseling…is a short cut for the abortion if it is given by the pro-choice clinics or institutions.” The pro-lifers would even suggest “the neutral third-party to carry it out. Then we will have the true pre-abortion counseling. Pro-life and pro-choice counseling will be quite different.” though “48 hours may help some women to realize that human life is quite worth to consider. Especially when women hear the heart beating of the unborn child, they may change their mind.” (Table 7:
AF13)
Table 7: Results of Focus Group Interview of Singapore and Taiwan-Question (3)
Participants Code
Participants Answer Keyword
AF1 No, I don't think so. I think counseling could help women to re-think about it. And if the government could provide some financial aids would be more perfect.
No, I don't think so.
AF2 I think the pre-abortion counseling could help women to face the pregnancy crisis and to ponder after the counseling in order to make a good decision. I don’t think it's a kind of violating to women's right. People need advice when they need to do an important decision, right?
AF3 I agree with it. Counseling is provided by doctors and doctors are trained to help. Help itself should not be designed as a violating system. If it is a violating then try to fix it. It's
(As the Content.)
basically designed on mutual trust and common good.
AF6 If you really want it (to have abortion), then you come back.
True, True, True. That is the case my question is to know why after the pre-abortion counseling, why would they change their mind? For human or for woman, what is the thing which is correct to do, if they don’t have the informed decisions? For me, if I have the fact decision, I must be informed all the information and facts. All the information must be available to me. Then I can make a better decision and to know why I have to go ahead.
Most of the time, they are told that (the unborn child) is just a tissue, like some pimples. You break it and it has gone. But when baby is moving, baby has the face, could you do that?
So after pre-abortion counseling, yeh, what I think that we could know what we talk about thousands of times, may my though is wrong.
When you say women have the rights. All of us have the rights. How right is right? My question is how right is right. It is usually a lie or a joke. So when we say about a decision, you must tell it both, all the good things and bad things. To give everybody the full information and let you decide. I mean I am talking about the civil rights. Everybody have to do their own decision. Give the person all the available facts and information. Everything is available and true to her. And she makes her own decision.
AF7 If the women have thought of it thousands of times, then the pre-abortion counseling makes no any sense, just go for it. I mean if she
decides to go abortion, then the pre-abortion may make difference for her. (All laugh.) AF10 No, I don't think it is violating. Women really
need to re-think it. I mean before doing abortion. She really needs help. I think the counseling could help.
AF11 I don't think it is violating. It could help and provide the chance to re-think about it. .
AF12 Yes, I think it could help to think about it, in order to come down to make a right decision.
AF13 48 hours may help some women to realize that human life is quite worth to consider.
Especially when women hear the heart beating of the unborn child, they may change their mind. And as we know that the angry or sad emotion of the mother may affect the unborn child. It is good to give the opportunity to know more about the human dignity of the unborn child. As to the pre-abortion counseling, there is a short cut for the abortion if it is given by the pro-choice clinics or institutions. I suggest the neutral third-party to carry it out. Then we will have the true pre-abortion counseling. Pro-life and pro-choice counseling will be quite different. It could be more damage. The government sector actually is more birth control sectors. So they promote the condom and say you can use it.
For the radical feminists the condom use and the contraception are their reproductive rights.
They go around the world and propaganda it, especially in the developing countries. That is the same thing.
AF14 I do know that there is pre-abortion counseling set by the government. It gave us counseling.
I saw the
Because sometimes we are waving, so we say
‘poor choice’. Since it is mandatory, we could go through it and choose our side. The lady could choose to keep the baby or abort it. For her, maybe she is a pro-choice, actually, she doesn’t matter. There is case, about a woman who wants to abortion. I was not there. I saw the after-things. She quite confused for a long time, but after that (pre-abortion counseling), typically, she felt, usually after the abortion, most ladies fell guilty, because part of them become lost, and after that need post counseling. Most of them, not all the times, they would rather escape the reality to view their guilty, their upsets. Because if they could review it, I mean the wrong part of choice, then there again they might gain the strength.
But most of them not choose to review it.
ladies fell guilty, because part of them become lost, and after that need post counseling,
AF15 Waiting period and pre-abortion counseling are good but what I recommendation is to increase the mandatory waiting period. The idea of mandatory waiting period in my understanding is a course of abortion. If you have an abortion situation, now it’s legal. But cut it as far as human beings begins, abortion is a huge decision, of course, she should think of some consequences before you go ahead. So that’s the idea that you could have pre-abortion counseling. After you have given advices and informed some consequences, and I give you some times to think about it before going through this abortion process. What is the objection raised by the other side, they are des-respected because of the pre-abortion counseling. That would be said that woman does not understand, perhaps, not intelligent enough, but she has to go through of this
My perspective it
process before even she will or will not go through the abortion. Try to force this mandatory on her is a violation of her or not.
My perspective it is quite a need for both women who seek abortion and who is pregnant. For most Singaporean, they will criticize that the government is power, a strong authority, but in fact, most women, especially young girls and young women in Singapore, even married women, and widow women may need go through this because they might not know there are other choices. After giving them all the information, including the adoption, about the consequences of abortion, about the unborn child, and then they go back, to think through the decision fully. And perhaps with the assistances, it may help. They might find more fruitful sides of life. Of course, I know the other side quite cannot accept it.
No. How about man? (All laugh.)
Yes, it helps.
No. How about man?
A23 No. Abortion is a kind of destruction. It needs to rethink about it. I support the law and it helps.
(As the Content.)
A24 I don't think it's violating the women's reproductive right. It needs to reconsider and we have to understand why women demand abortion. As I know some choose it because of the financial problems and some for social problems. The pre-abortion counseling may provide the chance to face the problems and provide the possible resources. And the government could provide some financial aids
(As the Content.)
and helps.
A25 No, it helps to face the related problems. I don't think it's a kind of violating. It's part of law education.
A28 _wife: No, I don't think it's a kind of violating women's right. Women have the right to make a better choice. The mandatory pre-abortion counseling and 48 waiting period could help women to make a better choice.
No, I don't think it's a kind of violating women's right.
A29 _husband: No, I think it is a good opportunity to re-consider the decision before performing the abortion. It also helps the family to make a better preparation for that. I mean for abortion.
It's not an easy decision.
a good opportunity to re-consider
BF1 No, I don’t think it violates women’s autonomy. Women could make their own decision while they receive the counseling.
No, I don’t think it violates women’s autonomy.
BF2 No, I don't think so, though I do not know how they function. Is it by doctors or by religious professionals, right? I think counseling could help women, couples, and teens to re-think about it.
help women, couples, and teens to re-think about it.
BF3 No, People need time to consider some very important decisions.
People need time to consider some very important decisions.
BF10 No, I don't think it is violating women right.
Then women still could make their own decision after the counseling. It is a way to
It is a way to help
help women to re-think about it what they are doing abortion.
BF11 Yes, I think it is helpful. Too many women are too harshly to make an abortion decision.
Yes, I think it is helpful.
BF12 Yes, I agree with it. It could help. And to make an important decision needs more times and advices. It’s not a violating.
It could help
BF13 I think the government tends to give sugar to those who are noisy. It is not good. Those noises are not the truth.
BF14 I think the radical feminists are just some few minorities. I don’t think they could really represent the most majorities of the women. I prefer to support the pre-abortion counselling.
And I suggest that men also need it.
BF15 I think if the radical feminists usually prefer to abort the babies the institutional settings of pre-abortion counselling make no any trouble for them but it is important to those who needs this chance to know more about the recourses.
(As the Content.)
BF19 No. I don’t think so. I think we need other’s advice.
we need other’s advice.
BF20 It’s not easy. Both women and man need time and organization to help, like when we teens we need our parents’ advice. Parent’s advice usually helps us, and they are always standing by us. They basically would like to give us the best. The mandatory pre-abortion counseling
BF20 It’s not easy. Both women and man need time and organization to help, like when we teens we need our parents’ advice. Parent’s advice usually helps us, and they are always standing by us. They basically would like to give us the best. The mandatory pre-abortion counseling