An abortion clinic in the U.S is offering a health spa-like experience for patients in an effort to fight stigma.
A new abortion clinic has opened in the U.S that will greet patients with fluffy robes and hot tea on arrival.
The clinic called Carafem is based in Maryland in the U.S and specialises in administrating the abortion pill. They’re promising a “spa-like treatment” and to talk openly about abortion – to get rid of some of the stigma that currently exists about the procedure.
One advertisement for the clinic actually reads: “Abortion. Yeah, we do that.”
“We don’t want to talk in hushed tones,” Carafem President Christopher Purdy told The Washington Post. “We use the A-word.”
Read more: Disappointing: This WA clinic won’t be providing abortions, after all.
Women needing abortions in the area can visit the Carafem website before booking an appointment.
The site allows them to access straight-forward information on costs, what the procedure involves and generally answers any questions women might have, without the need to Google around the internet and trawl forums for support.
The clinic has – of course – received criticism from anti-abortion groups who claim the approach is too “celebratory”
But Christopher Purdy said he was inspired to open the facility after spending over 10 years working with a not-for-profit group overseas, which helped to promote HIV prevention and family planning in developing nations. He said it was sometimes easier to access abortions overseas than it was in the United States.
Read more: Why is no one talking about abortion in the NSW election?
And maybe it’s time to do the same thing in Australia too.
Top Comments
I think the concept can work. Having a termination is so clinical that a little warmth surrounding the whole thing can only be a positive thing.
This is a fantastic concept.
My miscarriage was so dry and clinical. I had all these appointments with the miscarriage clinic to check my progress and it was "sit in this chair while we do your bloodwork" "ok, now go get a coffee before your ultrasound to make sure you haven't retained any products of conception" "please don't cry, you're upsetting the pregnant women in the waiting room".
I think a lot of it would have been a lot smoother if I'd been able to get a foot massage while having my blood taken, a facial during the ultrasounds, manicure during the D&C, a freaking back massage afterwards. You know? Just some kind of pampering to take some of the strain off. I went and got a massage after everything was said and done and honestly it helped a lot, but I stand by it would have been a lot more effective if it had been during the bulk of my stress, not as an afterthought a few weeks later.
Choosing to terminate isn't an easy decision, and they tend to get judged for making that decision, so being able to say "oh, I had a spa day" without lying, it seems like it'd be wonderful.
Is it just me or after my miscarriage the last thing I thought of was a foot spa FFS.