ABORTION - A
practical guide for doctors
By Charles Schlebaum MD. MNGvA &
Joeri van den Bergh MD. PhD. MNGvA.
with parts written by Eugene
Glick, M.D.,M.P.H.
PREFACE
This book is meant for doctors who wish to terminate
pregnancies. It is a practical guide, based on more than forty years
experience. The methods which have proven to be the most reliable and
least dangerous are described in detail. Practically all problems
which can be encountered are discussed. All possible complications
are reviewed so that in most cases they can be prevented, or treated
if they should arise. Also, safe methods of local and general
anaesthesia are described.
In the early seventies, like several other doctors the author
Charles Schlebaum started doing abortions in his surgery in den Haag,
the Netherlands. So great was the demand that his private practice
gradually turned into the largest abortion clinic in the Netherlands,
with six doctors and thirty staff members working in three shifts,
treating sometimes over a hundred patients per day. Some 75% of all
women were foreigners, because in all countries except the UK
abortion was illegal. Later these numbers declined because more
clinics arose in the Netherlands, and gradually the attitude in other
European countries allowed doctors to do abortions.
Co-author Dr Joeri van den Bergh, who worked as a general
practitioner in Castricum, became involved with abortion in 1970
starting up the third abortion clinic in the Netherlands in Beverwijk
. He strongly believes that all women should have access to safe,
effective, affordable and acceptable means of fertility regulation.
He was the first doctor performing second trimester VTOP's in the
Netherlands, and the first using prostaglandines in 1973. In 1976 His Clinic took part in a multicentered WHO prostaglandin investigation.
After years of political squabbles and a number of fruitless
lawsuits against Abortion Clinics the Abortion Law was passed in
1981. By that time the Abortion Service in the Netherlands was well
established so that the law was a mere formality.
The example of the Netherlands shows that the action of a
group of doctors can build up a safe and reliable Abortion Service,
which will speed up the political process to legalise abortion in
those countries still lacking these facilities.
In 1998 we came in contact with Eugene
Glick M.D.,P.P.H, an American gynaecologist from Reno Nevada, who
devoted the last 20 years of active practice primarily to providing
abortion services in Reno. His monography "Surgical Abortion" written
in 1998, gives a marvellous overview of how abortions should be
carried out, based on the insights from someone who was there from
the start. We quickly became aware that we needed Gene to fill up the
many holes in our Practical Guide, especially as we miss the know-how
of the in some ways more complicated American rules, partially caused
by the more defensive type of medicine practised at the other side of
the Atlantic. Genes tips about patient selection, charting, special
considerations and precautions are unique. We were therefore very
happy that Gene allowed us to include parts of his monograph into our
work. Where we used it, you will find his name above the chapter.
This book is written in the language of international science:
bad English . Nevertheless we apologise for severe mistakes.
Reactions, criticism, remarks and inquiries are gladly invited
and necessary to keep this work up to date.
last update spring 2010
ISAD's e-mail
address : isad@xs4all.nl
Worldwide Copyright byJoeri van den
Bergh, MD, PhD, MNGvA