by Joy Bradbury
Police are probing the death of a premature baby at Victoria General Hospital last year, in a case sources say could spark more controversy between pro and anti-abortion groups.
The case involved a caesarian birth in which the baby died 11 hours later.
The caesarian delivery - 23 weeks after conception - was performed after the hospital’s abortion committee turned down a request for an abortion.
Det. Sgt. Blake Green of Victoria police said police are investigating the incident at the request of B.C. Chief Coroner William McArthur who will conduct an inquiry into the matter.
Sources say unanswered questions surround the case.
The incident, which occurred in late 1978, was not brought to the attention of authorities until two months ago and has been in the hands of Victoria police for three weeks.
Sources have revealed the mother was a “severely mentally retarded woman in her early 20’s,” then living in a Vancouver Island mental institution.
The pregnancy was not recognized until the 23rd week.
But when institution officials approached the abortion committee of Victoria General requesting an abortion for the young woman, the committee refused.
It is not clear why the caesarian operation was then performed.
Unanswered questions are:
Medical authorities told The Courier the chances a baby will survive at 26 weeks of age (about six months) are much better than chances of survival at 23 weeks of age.
“Perhaps this is where the public must face the issue and decide what the rules regarding abortions really are,” said a medical authority.
“If the facts of this case stand up, do the people who performed that delivery have the right to play God?”