Pro-choice or No-choice? Midwifery Led Abortion Care in Canada

Noël Patten, MA

ABSTRACT
In the 1988 Morgentaler Decision, the Supreme Court decriminalized abortion, but it did not end the challenges Canadian women face when accessing abortion.1,2,3,4 Access barriers in Canada include limited hospital-provided abortion services, lack of rural services and funding, unexpected costs, anti- choice health care providers and lobbying, and a growingscarcityofabortioncareproviders. Manyof these constraints could be eased by introducing midwife-provided abortion services. Midwives are educated in well-woman care and sensitive issues regarding women's reproductive and sexual health.