krazykitkat: (flip (CJ))
[personal profile] krazykitkat
From SMH:

The majority of Australians are opposed to abortion performed for non-medical reasons, according to a new opinion poll.

With federal parliament set to debate the abortion pill RU486 this week, the national poll revealed that 51 per cent of those surveyed were against a woman choosing an abortion for social or financial reasons while 53 per cent opposed Medicare funding abortion in these circumstances.

The survey of 1,200 people, which was carried out by independent research company Market Facts on behalf of the Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations (AFRLA), also found that 78 per cent of those asked oppose Medicare funding of late-term abortions (past 20 weeks of pregnancy) and 67 per cent are against Medicare funding after the first trimester (13 weeks).



Apart from the fact that I'd be very suspicious of the wording of the poll questions, and this seems to contradict the results of most other polls done on the subject, there is a huge glaring problem with the results.

Most abortions for "social" reasons are done well before 13 weeks, while many abortions for medical reasons are done after 13 weeks. Results from CVS would be available not long before the magic 13 week mark, while amnios aren't done till after 13 weeks. Plus virtually all "late term" abortions are done for medical reasons. So the poll results are contradictory and hence meaningless.


ETA:

I just fired off a letter to the SMH:

So, according to the survey carried out on behalf of the Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations, 78 per cent of those asked oppose Medicare funding of late-term abortions (past 20 weeks of pregnancy) and 67 per cent are against Medicare funding after the first trimester (13 weeks), while most (a huge majority of 51%) are opposed to abortion for non-medical reasons. Apart from the fact that this contradicts other polls done on the subject of women's access to abortion, was it pointed out to those being surveyed that most genetic testing, such as Amniocentesis, is carried out after 13 weeks? Would those surveyed force a woman who has just discovered that her baby has a genetic defect that will result in serious impairment, death soon after birth, or still birth, to either go through with the pregnancy or pay for her own termination?

I thought I'd just pick out the most glaring problem. Now let's watch as my letter doesn't get published (once more).

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 05:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] baked-goldfish.livejournal.com
Most abortions for "social" reasons are done well before 13 weeks, while many abortions for medical reasons are done after 13 weeks.

That doesn't matter to the pro-life politicians, if yours are anything like ours. Partial-birth abortions are only done for medical reasons, and yet here in the US, they're now banned.

These guys don't let the truth get in the way, as long as the truthiness is solid.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 05:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] suivreletoile.livejournal.com
the national poll revealed that 51 per cent of those surveyed were against a woman choosing an abortion for social or financial reasons
That's hardly a "majority".

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 06:02 am (UTC)
ext_6531: (Random: Cate wins at life.)
From: [identity profile] lizbee.livejournal.com
That even contradicts the findings of other Right to Life groups. It sounds to me like someone has dumped the "undecideds" in with the "antis".

'Tis a case of, "Please get off my side, you make me look stupid and manipulative."

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 06:23 am (UTC)
lark_ascends: Blue and purple dragonfly, green background (wtf? Daniel by sorcha_gaia)
From: [personal profile] lark_ascends
I'm trying to understand how a poll of only 1000 people can be representative of the population...

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 06:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlemissscifi.livejournal.com
Well done. I hope it gets published. This is an important issue and too many of the facts are left out.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 06:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] girliejones.livejournal.com
good letter - i"ll be looking out for it!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-05 11:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vonne.livejournal.com
I can't wait to see what (if any from what you're saying) feedback you _do_ get...

(no subject)

Date: 2006-02-08 04:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] privateuniverse.livejournal.com
This is the first time I've been on LJ for a while so I only just saw this and I'm fuming right now about the whole aobrtion/RU-486 debate in general, thank-you for writing the letter, if you think you are SMH blacklisted and I'm pretty sure they do it, simply use a psuedonym and mail the letter from work or a surrounding area postcode in future, it has worked for me ;)

And just in general and please excuse the ****ed French but would Tony Abbott please just F**K OFF!!!

July 2015

S M T W T F S
   1234
5678910 11
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags