Dr. Anne Jeffers:

I agree with the comments on the role of council as the governing body. As a college, we agreed to comment on the heads of the Bill in terms of how they relate to psychiatry and its practice but decided we would not comment on abortion. Many of those who expressed concerns about the college council feel that we should not be involved in this legislation at all. On the issue of whether we would suddenly be put in a situation in which we are not sure what to do, in practice a clinical decision would be made. It is tempting to speak about resources while we are here but many of the women concerned have difficulties in supporting their children and may have inadequate social worker care and other supports. Many of the women with whom we deal have had children who were taken into care. They often say to me that if they had more support they would have been able to look after their children.