A middle-aged man walked into the room hesitantly, with a young, innocent-looking girl following him. I looked up from my desk, invited them to sit, and smiled slightly in greeting. The man sat down, avoiding eye contact, and before he could express what he wanted to say, tears were already streaming down his face, which he wiped away with his hand while sobbing softly.
“Please help me… my daughter is 14 years old. How can she be pregnant? She hasn’t finished school yet. Her boyfriend is 15. We want help with an abortion.”
I noticed the worried and distressed expression on the father’s face. After inquiring about the problem, I asked a question that I was curious about, something that people generally think about, including consultants like myself.
“The pregnancy is 10 weeks along. Aren’t you afraid of sin?”
That… made the father’s tears flow again.
“Doctor, my wife and I have talked. For our daughter’s future, even if it’s a sin, we have to accept it.”
I felt sympathy and pity. Why is it that these young girls do not protect themselves? They are about to become “mothers” while still being “young girls.” This is a time when they should be fully developing their potential in their studies. If they are allowed to give birth… what will the quality of the Thai population be in the future?
Over a year in the role of a nurse at a teen clinic, where more and more teenagers come for advice on unintended pregnancies. Some are afraid to tell their parents, afraid to consult anyone, and embarrassed about being pregnant. Some attempt abortions themselves, resulting in complications and hospital visits. Some become depressed and commit suicide. Some have to leave school because adults force them to marry when they want to continue their education. A 16-year-old girl ran away from home because she couldn’t stand her husband’s behavior and came for advice.
“I’m tired of raising the child alone. My boyfriend is too attached to his friends, drinks alcohol, insults, and beats me. What should I do?”
Indeed… what should I do… what should the teen clinic do… what should the hospital do
These women are not suffering from diseases we cannot treat, but they are chronically ill because society does not value their lives enough to provide them with proper diagnosis and care. These women face problems, have no rights to demand, and no access to reproductive health services. It’s a question from a father waiting for an answer.
“We don’t provide abortion services here, but we will coordinate with a hospital that does.”
That was the answer. I coordinated with a hospital in another province, with total costs in the tens of thousands, and scheduled a service date. The father and daughter left the room, but I continued to ponder the issue. If we had services here… treating every condition would be convenient, economical, safe, close to the heart, and close to home for patients with “unplanned pregnancies.” On the appointment day, I called, and the voice on the other end softly said,
“Thank you for your help… but I’ve changed my mind and decided to let my daughter get married, doctor.”
I was stunned….
Read the conclusion here: https://rsathai.org/contents/128