People

Joyce Arthur

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

Founder and Executive Director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, a national political pro-choice group.

All Work

Analysis Science

‘False Witnesses’ Publish Deeply Flawed Study on Abortion Mortality in Mexico

Mar 25, 12:46pm Joyce Arthur

Written by ten anti-choice authors, the new study poses an unacceptable risk to public health because it could be used to advocate the criminalization of necessary health care for women.

Commentary Health Systems

Why We Need to Ban ‘Conscientious Objection’ in Reproductive Health Care

May 14, 1:56pm

The exercise of conscientious objection is a violation of medical ethics because it allows health-care professionals to abuse their position of trust and authority by imposing their personal beliefs on patients.

Analysis Abortion

How Deeply Flawed Studies on Abortion and Breast Cancer Become Anti-Choice Fodder

Jan 9, 9:51am Joyce Arthur

Anti-choice advocates are using findings from a new study out of China to jump to the unwarranted conclusion that abortion causes an increased breast cancer risk. But the study’s methodology and data appear seriously flawed, with the results likely reflecting “recall bias.”

Human Rights

The Limits of Free Speech

Sep 21, 12:25pm Joyce Arthur

Hate speech should not be tolerated in the name of free speech. It has real and devastating effects on peoples' lives and risks their health and safety. It's harmful and divisive for communities and hampers social progress in fighting discrimination. Left unchecked, hate speech can lead to war and genocide. Although the right to free speech is a fundamental value, it should not be allowed to outweigh the basic human rights of other people, especially their right to life.

Criminalized Abortion Overshadows Good News of Reduced Unsafe Abortion Deaths

Dec 9, 7:40pm Joyce Arthur

Researchers at the World Health Organization have recently documented a substantial decrease in the numbers of unsafe abortion deaths, but the incidence of unsafe abortion itself has not decreased. Anti-abortion laws in developing countries cause grave harm and endanger women's lives and health. As long as these antiquated laws remain in place, unsafe abortion and its resulting maternal mortality and morbidity will continue.

Canada: Let’s Ban Coerced Childbirth

Apr 19, 7:27pm Joyce Arthur

Anti-choicers want to ban coercing a woman into abortion, but a better idea would be a law that prohibits the much more common practice of coercing a woman into childbirth.