The Editor,

Herald Sun

    The concern expressed by Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner, and Robyn Riley,  that Senator Julian McGauarn's efforts to ascertain the facts about the abortion of a viable 32-weeks fetus endangers the privacy of the doctor-patient relationship is misplaced. The privacy of such relationships is not sacrosanct when taxpayers are forced to subsidize procedures they find morally reprehensible and which may be illegal according to Victoria's Child Destruction Act, and  particularly  not in this case when the unborn child  may have been  killed on the basis of a wrong diagnosis.

   The baby could have been delivered alive instead of dead, and the mother could have been reassured she  would never have to  see it or have anything to do with it if that was her choice. The deliberate killing of this baby concerns our entire community.

    As we have seen from the tragedies at Bundaberg Hospital, and as a lawyer who has acted for victims of  medical negligence,  there need to be some restraints on the arrogance of  some medical professionals, and an exposure of their mistakes.

Charles Francis, AM, QC

12 Denham Place,

Toorak, Vic. 3142