In response to those who have taken issue with CMAJ over publication of the article by David Reardon and associates,1 I would like to point out that in medical ethics the concept of informed consent is of paramount importance. Regardless of one's opinions about the abortion issue, educating patients about the benefits and risks of an intervention is integral to good medicine. Thus, physicians should be willing to inform their patients of the risks associated with abortion. Aside from the usual risks associated with a surgical procedure, these include increased risks of psychiatric illness,1 future preterm birth2 and breast cancer.3,4
I commend CMAJ for refusing to allow politics to trump the scientific progress of women's health care.
Shauna C. Hollingshead Medical Student University of Alberta Edmonton, Alta. Canadian Physicians for Life