THE EDITOR, Sir:

In your edition of Sunday, May 4, 2008, under the heading "NAJ opposes abortion clinics", Mrs Allwood-Anderson, president of the Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ), is quoted as saying that the "nurses wholeheartedly supported the sustenance of life" and that "an attempt by any government to make abortion widely available will be met by extensive agitation and opposition from us (members of the NAJ)."

These encouraging words reminded me of part of Lord Denning's judgment in the 1981 Court of Appeal case of Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom v Department of Health and Social Security. In that case, the main issue was whether nurses in the British health system, in being part of the abortion process, were entitled to certain defences available under the 1967 Abortion Act.

Lord Denning, in examining the role of the nurses in the abortion process generally, uttered these amazing words:

"I can quite understand that many nurses dislike having anything to do with these abortions. It is a soul-destroying task. The nurses are young women who are dedicated by their profession and training to do all they can to preserve life. Yet, here they are called upon to destroy it."

The House of Lords reversed Denning's judgment on the issue, but these words of Denning remain: Abortion is a "soul-destroying task."

It is indeed reassuring that our nurses still consider their role as being sustainers of life. They need to then pay very close attention to the debate as the outcome will, indeed, have consequences for them as they perform their duties.

I am, etc.,

S. RICHARDS

2 3/4 Ruthven Road, Kingston 10