Posted on 02/23/2008 3:16:44 AM PST by bad company
An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: "I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum."
Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1 2007. She was declared dead early the following day - her 31st birthday.
Her suicide note read: "I told everyone I didn't want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else does."
The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Miss Beck had split up with her boyfriend, referred to as "Ben" after he "reacted badly" to the pregnancy.
She saw her GP before the termination, but missed an appointment at a hospital in Penzance. She then cancelled, but later turned up to an appointment at a clinic at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske. The counsellor was on holiday so a doctor referred Miss Beck to a pregnancy counselling telephone service eight days before carrying out the abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, the inquest heard.
The coroner, Dr Emma Carlyon, ordered that the identities of the doctor who performed the abortion and her lead consultant be kept secret.
The inquest heard that Sylvia Beck, the victim's mother, wrote to the hospital after her daughter's death, saying: "I want to know why she was not given the opportunity to see a counsellor.
"She was only going ahead with the abortion because her boyfriend did not want the twins.
"I believe this is what led Emma to take her own life - she could not live with what she had done."
The doctor said: "I discussed Emma's situation with her, and wrote on the form, 'Unsupported, lives alone, ex-partner aware'.
"It is normal practice to give a woman the number for telephone counselling when a counsellor is not available.
"I am satisfied that everything was done to make sure that Emma consented to the operation.
She added: "We have since appointed more counsellors so there is more holiday cover."
Katie Gibbs, Miss Beck's GP, told the hearing: "She was extremely distressed by the abortion procedure, and I didn't think she ever came to terms with it.
"She had a long history of anxiety and depression. Despite my best efforts, she was not willing to see a counsellor after the termination."
Her boss at the clinic, said: "The time that can be given to a woman by a counsellor is limited in a busy hospital.
"I am satisfied everything was done to make sure Emma was consenting to surgery. I don't feel there was any gap in the counselling service.
"There were lots of individuals who would be alert to any doubts. The comments made by Emma's mother are not about a doctor I recognise."
Mrs Beck told the court: "Emma was considered a talented artist, and sold a number of paintings.
"She was pleased when she became pregnant, but Ben reacted badly to the news."
Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Carlyon said: "It is clear that a termination can have a profound effect on a woman's life.
"But I am reassured by the evidence of the doctors here."
How often does this sort of thing happen? Not the suicide, but the fact that a woman is left alone with no one to help her. So she aborts her babies out of a felling of hopelessness. What a terrible world.
See, the liberals will go to great lengths to protect a murderer rapist on death row from reaching the electric chair but they are all in agreement when it comes to killing innocence. And they say we are mental! Liberalism is a mental disorder plain and simple
Poor woman.
Hope she has found some peace.
For way too many women that yes I have seen with my own eyes, aborting babies was less troubling than a routine D&C
yo...my baby’s daddy
makes me want to puke
forced is a word used with a bit too much license here
I think she was desparate to be reunited with them or feared she had abandoned them by killing them
as a parent your biggest fear is being helpless to help your kids if they are alone and afraid or in danger
makes for good spooky movies
this a tragedy all round
There is sin unto death and sin not unto death.
There is "greater condemnation" (in the KJV Mark 12:40 read "greater damnation"), and if there is a greater there is also a lessor.
Under Levitical Law not all sin was dealt with in the same way, with the same penalty. The absolution of some sins was more difficult.
Some sins are particularly listed with an accompanying "God hates.."
I'm not so certain that the "Stealing a pack of chewing gum is the same as murder in God's eyes." teaching is correct.
And them some.
In other words, "I'm satisfied we convinced her to abort." "We didn't miss a trick in the abortionist bag o' tricks." Convincing platitudes, blame transference, pre-absolution of guilt, whatever it takes.
Worry about the shoes you’ll be in.
I agree. England was the pinpoint for the Western Christian spread of God’s word for many centuries. It is so sad the country now has church participation and belief in biblical Christianity in the single digits.
I concur on both counts. I have to confess, I want to feel such mercy and compassion for her, because this is so tragic. But, I wonder if she is in Hell. I wondered this about my mother as well. It is a terrible contemplation.
I have no doubt her babies are with the Lord.
If she is in Hell, I can't give her any more mercy or compassion - because God has already judged her. I can, however, feel tragedy in my heart for her - which I already do.
That was a good analysis.
The answer to that is No, they don’t. Pretty disgusting, isn’t it?
Thank you - and I mean that. My sorrow for your uncle.
This is terribly sad.
I think this woman was too distraught to be thinking logically; I think she was desperate, rather then presumptuous, when she spoke about joining her babies in Heaven. We should all pray for this poor woman’s soul.
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