Yesterday the anti abortionists stood outside the hospital where I work. They always do on Friday, for that is the day when the termination (abortion) lists are done. Abortion is not a woman’s right in New Zealand, but in effect any woman can choose this: the doctors who certify abortions (for a fee) rarely disagree with a woman’s wishes. Those of us medics who see this as anathema (such as this Presbyterian) opt out — there is a conscience clause in the legislation.

Now… the protesters have an agreement hasbed out with the hospital as to where they can stand, and what they can do. Which is stand there.

But Sam Shepherd has decided to protest the protestors.In the course of my week, I generally am not in the hospital on Friday mornings. I am up at the suburban campus, where the acute psychiatric ward is. But I had to perform the ECT list — which is at the .main hospital. After that had finished, I left  and witnessed this protest.

The people who protest abortions were standing silently with their placards.

Next to them was a man with a placard that said “Dicks”. (that is the equivalent of “Prick”. Call someone that in a pub and you will be in a fight)

There were a group of people standing directly in front of the protestors screaming at them.

As I moved past one woman yelled “The Church loves infanticide, God loves infanticide”.

I’m afraid I got angry. I went back and said that somebody had just been rude. Unacceptably rude. Offensive.

And I thus offended the lovers of evil and murder.

This looks like it will be a weekly event If so. Sam Sharpe is a fool. Because the word will get around.  When I talked about this in the tea room, most of my colleagues — and this is Dunedin, which is quite progressive/red — were appalled.

The anti abortion protests have come down to the die hards. I predict that there will be more anti abortion protesters the more this happens.

Me? next time I’m down there on Friday, I’m bringing a camera.