Canadian Doctor Speaks Out About Anti-Choice Violence

For many Canadians, Dr. Henry Morgentaler is the face of the pro-choice movement in Canada. Morgentaler, who has provided safe abortions to women at his clinics since the 1960s, was also a leading force behind the legalization of abortion in Canada in 1988. Morgentaler was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 for his commitment to women’s healthcare and freedom of choice. Morgentaler persevered in his exceptional service to Canadian women despite constant protests, violence, vandalism and death threats.

But Morgentaler isn’t the only abortion provider in Canada who had his life threatened for supporting women. Over the years, three Canadian doctors who provide abortions have been shot. One of them, Dr. Jack Fainman, has just released a book of his memoirs called They Shoot Doctors, Don’t They? By the time he was shot in 1997, Dr. Fainman had been working in obstetrics for more than four decades. While he did perform abortions, he had also delivered more than 5000 babies during his career.

According to the CBC, on the night Dr. Fainman was shot, he was watching television when a bullet ripped through his window and hit him in the shoulder. Dr. Fainman survived the attack, but was unfortunately not able to return to his obstetrics career. More than a decade later, he still has fragments of the bullet in his shoulder. No one was ever charged in the attack on Dr. Fainman, although James Kopp who was found guilty of similar attacks in the United States was a suspect in these terrorist attacks on doctors in Canada.

Throughout his career, Dr. Fainman was committed to supporting women. He told the CBC:

I’m a very strict pro-choicer. I think women absolutely should do what they want with their bodies and I just resented other people who want to take this privilege away.

Fainman’s book, which he co-authored with former Manitoba attorney general Roland Penner, describes Fainman’s career, the shooting, and the political context of the abortion debate.

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Read more: abortion, canada, Henry Morgentaler, Jack Fainman, pro-choice

Photo credit: smn on flickr

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John Z.

7:01PM PST on Jan 28, 2012

Abortion remains the mutilation and killing of a poor, defenceless (even screaming) child within his or her mother's womb. This without any defence attorney, trial or jury.

Such inhuman behaviour, within or without the womb, remains a horrendous and heinous crime.

send a green star

sandra s.

4:32AM PST on Jan 28, 2012

abortion is a womans choice to make,and no man should have a right to interfer.
ITIS A PERSONAL MEDICAL ISSUE AND NOT A POLITICAL FOOTBALL SCORING EXERCISE FOR GROUPS TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
its between a woman and her medical team.

Carolyn B.

6:51AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

Don't ever call the miserable murderous religious nut-jobs "pro-life" all they are is "anti-choice"!

Lynn S.

11:46AM PST on Nov 26, 2011

@ Marg W and Evelyn M and anybody else, I am definitely PRO_CHOICE!
I mistakenly put 'pro-choice' when it should 'pro-life' --- that's what I get for commenting so early in the morning. Here is what my comments should have read. My opening paragraph clearly says where I stand and I will never back-off from that.Sorry for the errors.

I am a Canadian and I am glad that Canada makes abortion possible without the back alley antics. I do not believe in abortion for myself, but I will support any woman in her right to choose what is right for her. It is her body. The decision is hers.

In Vancouver, there was a great deal of trouble with the pro-life groups to the point that exclusion zones or bubbles had to be put up around the offices of abortion providers. Pro-lifers would heckle and harass women as they went in and out of the clinics, even though they were in there for non abortion related treatment.

Pro-lifers are adamant about imposing their moral convictions on others. But ultimately, it is between a woman and her God as to what she chooses. So to the pro-life people I say, back off. Look at your own short comings and fix those before you try fixing others'.

Danuta W.

12:21AM PST on Nov 16, 2011

Thank you for the info

Jane H.

9:54PM PST on Nov 14, 2011

The truth that we all face is that women get abortions whether they are legal or not. The question is , "do you want women to die getting an abortion or live getting a legal abortion?" Simply put, women will die if abortion is made illegal again.

Elisa L.

7:02PM PST on Nov 14, 2011

Green Star to Denise L. for giving a concrete example for what irked me about anti-choice people for so long. Every Saturday I see a group protesting outside PP and all I wonder is what impact they would have if they spent that time volunteering for children that are already here instead of holding up graphic signs when theres a Childrens center a block away.

Rose B.

3:48PM PST on Nov 14, 2011

For all the anti-choice people I guess you want to see women butchered, some bleeding to death in a filty back room in an alley somewhere. Just like back in the 'old' days when desperate women went to these butchers because there was no where else! It's easy for you to try and decide the fate of women, you've got nothing to lose. You're are not so desperately poor you cannot feed the mouths you already have, let alone one more. Or are very young and can't afford to support yourself, let alone a baby. I don't agree with using abortion as birth control but there are times when this awful choice is a NECESSITY for future well being of the woman/girl.

3:19PM PST on Nov 14, 2011

I guess all those anti-choicers would rather see women butchered, some bleeding to death in some filthy back room in an alley somewhere. Just like it was in the 'old days' when desperate women had no where else to turn to.

Rebecca S.

9:14AM PST on Nov 14, 2011

thank you to these doctors who have stood up with the pro choice movement :)