Women's Health

Lack of Support for Parenting Students

Submitted by Genevieve Bonomi on Thu, 2009/10/22 - 12:00am

Many students who attend universities across Canada have either faced the dilemma themselves or watched friends struggle with the choice between attaining a university education and having children. Since university students are mature individuals in their child-bearing years, it would make sense that Canadian university campuses would assist young people in their struggle by allowing them to have both an education and a family. Although many universities in Canada offer some resources, most do not offer all that is necessary. The University of Toronto greatly surpasses every other Canadian university, both through the resources available and through the general awareness of these resources amongst the student body. The majority of universities in Canada offer distance education, evening classes, on-campus daycare and rarely even one baby change table on campus. However, no university in the country offers the number of resources that the University of Toronto provides.

The Maternal Health Necessity Myth

Submitted by 88.raphael on Mon, 2009/07/06 - 4:40pm

The deVeber Institute conducts and communicates research about topics related to the biological, social, and ethical dimensions of human life. The Maternal Health Necessity Myth is one of the summer intern projects that falls under the area of Prenatal Diagnosis. Included is a brief explanation of the Maternal Health Necessity Myth and an excerpt from the research.

Some physicians and politicians have been making claims about adverse effects of fetal abnormalities on a mother’s physical health being a reason for an abortion. Here is an excerpt from the summary of the research into the validity of the Maternal Health Necessity claim:

“However, a mother’s psychological and physical health are two distinct and separate factors, and when physical health is sometimes cited[1], there is no supporting scientific evidence provided that usual fetal abnormalities for which abortions are requested[2] such as Down syndrome and cleft palate have any deleterious physical health effects on the mother at all”

Submitted by Raphael Ma, Summer Intern at the deVeber Institute

[1] Italy (2002) "Abortion Policies; A Global Review" United Nations Population Division Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  Page 74 [Available online].  http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/italy.doc.

[2] Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria (1998) “Report on late term terminations of pregnancy April 1988” Acute Health Division. Department of Human Services. Victoria, Australia. [Available on-line] http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/ahs/archive/report/report7.htm

Order Your DVD Today! Call 416-256-0555

Submitted by admin on Wed, 2009/02/18 - 12:09pm

On October 2, 2009, the deVeber Institute hosted a one-day conference

"Reproductive Decisions and Women's Well-Being"

Now on YouTube: "Women's Health at Risk" trailer

Submitted by admin on Tue, 2008/11/25 - 4:52pm

Women's Health at Risk; Abortion and Informed Consent is now on YouTube!

The full video of Dr. Deborah Zeni's captivating lecture can be purchased by emailing bioethics@deveber.org or calling 416-256-0555.