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."
I always understood purgatory as a place where you are "purged" of your sins. A place "as bad as hell," but you know you're getting out.
Of course there are no Biblical references of purgatory.
Suicide is just as much a murder as abortion is; and it seems especially terrible sin because, humanly speaking, it’s hard to see how you could repent of it. It’s over before remorse has time to develop. Your soul is entering into judgment in a very bad state, having trashed or rejected or despaired of God’s good gifts.
Suicide can be a terribly self-centered act, because the suicider is thinking only of her own feelings, her own misery, and not of the pain and grief she is inflicting on everyone around her. Her parents, her ex-boyfriend, anyone who knew her will suffer long because of her self-extermination.
It’s a damnable thing to do, really.
Kyrie eleison.
I agree, but what does that mean? Is there a Biblical reference for this? I am not trying to be a smart a$$. I know the biblical references for praying for someone to come to Jesus Christ when they are alive and have the choice. But I don't know what in the Bible to reference to pray for the dead.
Thanks in advance.
Purgatory isn’t forever. Hell is forever.
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Thank you so very much for sharing your story. God bless you and yours. Always remember that with Christ, life is ultimately redemptive. It is good to have you as a brother.
I can't speak for deutero, but human beings, Homo sapiens, are thirsty for Christ.
The Gospel from the Mass today was about Jesus meeting that Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. At first she thought He was taling about regular water ("But sir, you don't have a bucket...") and then she got it. She actually GOT it. She realized that she'd had this thirst all her life, and that Jesus.... well, read it yourself, here.
First, you've got to realize you're thirsty.
Priests for life? I thought all priests were for life... or do I just live under a rock?
“The product, abortion, is skillfully marketed and sold to the woman at the crisis time in her life. She buys the product, finds it defective and wants to return it for a refund. But, it’s too late.”
~Carol Everett
Sad,for sure.But "damnable"? *Always* damnable? Do you think God's judgment might take brain chemistry into consideration?
Remorse, not necessarily repentance. Judas Iscariot hanged himself, but I don't think anybody believes that showed the repentance that leads to salvation.
Thank you for stating so beautifully what I was thinking.
keeper
Here’s one for your ping list. So completely sad. A waste on all accounts.
It's not a secret to God.
-”-—doesn’nt anyone get married anymore——Ben should be So proud—”
why get married when the stupid, immoral women give it away without marriage?—”why buy a cow when milk is so darned cheap?”-—your sex is the one that has destroyed the moral fiber of our nation by cheapening themselves and acting like true trollops-—men are basic animals and will take whatever they are offered most of the time-—it was the woman who kept society straight by believing she was worth something and demanding a man take her in marriage before she gave the greatest gift in the world, ‘herself, her virginity’— the ‘modern woman’ who wanted to compete and be like men now complain “they can’t find a good man anymore”-—perhaps it is because there aren’t that many “good women” left to be found-—those that do hold themselves to higher standards don’t seem have any trouble
I was taught Purgatory was for children? I don’t know why but it was not a bad place but a place for a soul that was too young to go to heaven or hell. I know I sound like a nut I must ask my mom tomorrow.
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