Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 9. April 24 1978

The Woman's Rights

The Woman's Rights

1) If a woman asks her G.P. for a referral to a certifying consultant, the G.P. legally has to make this referral. The G.P. does not have the right to judge the merits of the case, a referral must be made.
2) The G.P. has to provide a referral letter to the certifying consultants. The woman has the right to give or withold her permission for the G.P. to give certain information about her to the certifying consultant (C.C). Thus, all of her personal history does not have to be divulged.
3) The woman has to see the C.C. face to face only if she wants to. Otherwise, a letter is all that is required in law.
4) She can ask her G.P. to accompany her to see the C.C. if she wishes and s/he agrees.
5) The CC does not have the right to discuss her case with any other person without her permission. Women have to safeguard their privacy.
6) The woman should not have to wait more than 2 weeks for a decision regarding her termination to be made.
7) Women have a right to ask for counselling when they are considering termination and also after a decision has been made by the C.C.s.

Janice Burns