Glasgow Family Planning Service

Abstract

Sir--Dr. Elizabeth Wilsons report (18 December p. 731) on the first year of a domiciliary family planning service in Glasgow calls for comment on many counts but I will offer only two. It is my opinion but an alarming development when a doctor justifies her work in terms of saving money for the community. To go into the homes of people who live with poverty unemployment overcrowding alcoholism debt and disease and offer only contraception suggests that 1984 is nearer than (we had thought). I cannot be alone in taking exception to Dr. Wilsons statement situation in Glasgow is complicated as 27% of the population are Roman Catholic and to the devout contraception presents an immediate dilemma. This applies. . . also to their medical advisers who on conscientious grounds may feel unable to participate in any family planning programme. Passing over the unsympathetic description of Catholics as complications of a well-ordered society let me record that the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council in Glasgow has taught and supervised the use of the temperature method of identifying the infertile phase of the female menstrual cycle in over 400 couples in each of the last four years. The services if its 12 medical adviser/health visitor teams are given free and our clients pay only for thermometers and charts. This service (unknown to Dr. Wilson?) reflects the Catholic attitude to responsible parenthood and family life in Glasgow and throughout the country. --I am etc.(Full text)