La Mia Scelta Viene Prima

This is the story of one of us "I GET TO DECIDE" One day I needed the morning- after pill to avoid an unwanted pregnancy "The morning after pill is an emergency contraceptive used exceptionally after unprotected *** intercourse. It prevents pregnancy by blocking ovulation or stopping fertilization." I went to the Emergency Room but was sent away They told me they do not provide a prescription for this particular and that I needed to see my personal doctor "Any doctor can write a prescription for this pill: general practitioners, gynecologists, those who work in family planning clinics, the ER, and as on-call doctors." I wasn't in my hometown and couldn't see my personal doctor so I went to a pharmacy without a prescription I explained the situation, and asked for the pill anyway. Every pharmacy I went to refused to give it to me simply because I didn't have a prescription As time passed, I got more and more anxious ... knowing that the longer you wait, the greater the chances of getting pregnant. "The pill is most effective within 12 hours of unprotected sex, 95% effective within 24 hours, and 88% within 72 hours (at which point it stops working)." They finally suggested that I contact the on-call doctor service where at last I found someone to write me a prescription for the pill although clearly against their will, and in an arrogant and hostile manner. It was nighttime and I had to find the only open pharmacy in the rather big city I was in o I could get the pill and finally take it. The pill didn't work probably because I took it too late and so I got pregnant. "The morning after pill isn't an abortion pill, so health care providers, pharmacists included, cannot claim to be conscientious objectors." A gynecologist confirmed that I was pregnant and told me to go to an another hospital and see someone, a nurse, who could explain the procedure for a voluntary interruption of pregnancy and provide me with all the necessary information "A woman who decides to interrupt her pregnancy can go to a family planning clinic, a licensed social health center, or her general practitioner." This nurse didn't give me any information about a voluntary interruption of pregnancy and wanted me to not choose to have the procedure done. She told me very clearly: When I asked her how the interruption works, she responded: > "The doctor or health care professional will carry out an evaluation with the patient determining the circumstances that led her to decide to ask for an interruption of pregnancy. They inform her of her rights and the social services she has access to. The patient has the right to be informed by a doctor of the diagnosis, prognosis and possible alternatives to the operation." After openly insulting me, this nurse "explained" the terrible psychological consequences that this type of procedure can cause. In other words, that “I would be sad for the rest of my life” and that “no woman has ever made this decision without coming to deeply regret it” and that “I will no longer be in a position to have and raise children in peace” and that “I will start sobbing whenever I see a stroller.” After hearing this so-called “medical advice”, my mind was made up. "Women must wait seven days after the medical consultation before they can take the doctor's note to an authorized site in order to have the voluntary interruption of pregnancy performed." Unfortunately, I had to wait three weeks for the operation because in the region where I was, not a single gynecologist was willing to perform the procedure and so a doctor from an another region had to come and he was only available once a month. "In Italy, 70% of gynecologists are conscientious objectors so after receiving the prescription, in 40% of cases, patients must wait more than two weeks before having the procedure Conscience objection is constantly increasing: it may impossible to get a voluntary interruption of pregnancy five years from now." There were a lot of us women all in line, all waiting to have the procedure done. Very quickly, the doctor explained to me that he would insert a capsule in my *** to widen my uterus and make it easier to perform the procedure Once the capsule is inserted, interruption of pregnancy begins. I was in a room with three other women the nurses brought them to the room for the procedure, which lasts a few minutes. After 30 or 40 minutes, the procedure was over for the other women while I stayed on the hospital bed for hours without anyone coming to check up on me or even tell me anything. In all likelihood this was due to the absence of non-objecting doctors and their assistants. "Conscious objection does not exempt anyone from providing medical assistance prior to or following the procedure. Doctors must give every patient the same careful attention, and avoid any type of discrimination in their work." After hours of waiting in the hospital bed, I started to bleed. The bleeding became more serious and painful as time wore on. I didn't feel that I had any right at all to call a nurse because I thought I was doing a terrible thing and that I deserved to feel the pain and that it was the very least I should have to go through for what I was doing. This actually caused the interruption to begin by itself. I only called the nurse when I got scared because I was losing so much blood and the pain was becoming unbearable. I was afraid that I would lose consciousness and that the procedure wouldn't work. In reality, everything had already happened. The procedure took place anyway to make sure that nothing would remain in my body. I suffered much more than the other women, and had to stay in the hospital much longer, until late that night. Even with strong painkillers I was in pain for the next few days. Considering my situation I expected to find professional, competent, and unbiased people, who respect a woman's right to choose. On the contrary, I didn't find any support whatsoever other than insults, condemnation and judgment. In the years since, this experience has also led to my inability to discuss my voluntary interruption of pregnancy because admitting that I suffered would be like proving the nurse right. "Traditional, religious, historical and cultural customs must not be used to justify the violation of a woman's right to decide for herself." For me, the most difficult thing regarding my abortion is not the choice that I made. I'm still completely convinced and happy and I don't feel like I have done an unspeakable thing. "A woman has the right to control every aspect of her health, and to decide freely and responsibly on matters concerning her sexuality without being coerced or suffering discrimination or violence. *** and reproductive rights are essential human rights." FEMINIST AND LESBIAN COLLECTIVE "VENGO PRIMA" IN DEFENSE OF LAW 194 I'd also like to be informed, at school, of the existence of places to go to in certain situations. I want to live in a society that allows for an informed and conscious sexuality. I want to be informed of the duties of medical professionals that treat women who decide to have an abortion. I want more non-objecting doctors who do not put their presumed morality before my rights. I don't want to live in a nation that condemns abortion, in a nation where the rights of women are attacked and judged. I don't want to deal with all kinds of obstacles when I need the morning after pill. I don't want to be the target of violence from those who think they know what is best for me. I decide by myself. I want Law 194, which has saved so many women from suffering and dying during underground abortions to be fully applied. I don't want anyone to be able to keep me from having at all times complete control of my sexuality including my *** and reproductive health. I want a free, public, and secular family planning clinic in every neighborhood. I want public health facilities to give scientific information and not pass moral judgment. When I show up in a public health facility I don't want to be treated like a baby but as a person capable of making my own decisions consciously. We want to decide Period. VIDEO DIRECTED BY FEMINIST AND LESBIAN COLLECTIVE “VENGO PRIMA” With the participation of: Annalisa, Annamaria, Annapaola, Cinzia, Claudia, Eugenia, Francesca, Giulia, Ilaria, Martina, Patrizia, Rachel, Serena, Silvia, Tatiana, Verena Sources: Law 194/78, World Health Organization web site, Norlevo(c) pamphlets, ... ... Governmental Commission for Women's Health, Platform of Beijing (1995), Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).