The Editor, Sir:

One of the topics dealt with at a symposium hosted by the Jamaica Medical Doctors' Association on Sunday August 12 was 'The Pros and Cons of the Legalisation of Abortion'. The Minister of Health, the Honourable Horace Dalley, was in attendance. There are persons who attended who got the impression that the matter of the legalisation of abortion in Jamaica was a fait accompli.

This is very surprising to us as we had been assured by both Dr. Wynante Patterson, the Chairperson of the Abortion Advisory Committee and by the Minister himself that public consultations would have been held prior to the finalisation of the matter.

To the best of our knowledge such public consultations have not been held. We therefore want to inform the Minister and the officials of the Ministry of Health that this group along with other groups, intend to do all that is legally possible to ensure that these consultations are held so as to ensure full participation in this matter which is essentially a matter of life and death.

I am, etc.,

SHIRLEY P. RICHARDS

Lawyers' Christian Fellowship