The Shift Toward Medication Abortion and Reproductive Healthcare Advocacy
The only standalone abortion clinic on Vancouver Island has stopped offering the service that was once its raison d’être: Surgical abortions. The Vancouver Island Women’s Clinic made the decision quietly last fall after it became clear that the vast majority of its patients preferred to end their unwanted pregnancies with a pill instead of a procedure. The huge demand for mifepristone – better known as the abortion pill – at the clinic on the outskirts of Victoria came as a shock even to Konia Trouton and Dawn Fowler, the couple who founded the clinic.
Understanding Mifepristone and Its History
Mifepristone was developed in the 1980s by the French drug maker Roussel-Uclaf. Originally known as RU-486, mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, causing the lining of the uterus to break down. Women must take a second drug 24 to 48 hours later called misoprostol, which induces contractions similar to a natural miscarriage. It is, in many ways, a fitting turn of events, considering the role the clinic’s founders played in Health Canada’s decision to approve mifepristone in 2015, by which time the drug was already available in nearly 60 other countries.
Advocacy in the Medical Community
The acquittal of Henry Morgentaler gave Dr. Trouton life a new purpose. “I realized it was possible to be a doctor and an activist,” Dr. Trouton said. This intersection of medicine and activism continues today. For example, incoming University of Michigan medical students walked out of Sunday’s white coat ceremony at the start of the keynote address to protest the selection of Dr. Kristin Collier as the speaker. Collier, a Michigan Medicine physician, has publicly expressed anti-abortion views in interviews and on social media. The walkout follows the circulation of a petition that received over 400 total signatures, 348 of which were from incoming or current medical students. They demanded that the University stands in solidarity with them and selects a speaker whose values align with institutional policies, students, and the broader medical community.
Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services
The Division of Complex Family Planning is committed to improving the health of individuals, families, and communities by providing evidence-based family planning care in a compassionate and non-judgmental environment that honors each person’s autonomy. We understand that nearly all people use contraception at some time in their lives and nearly 1 in 4 people will have an induced abortion. We work towards reproductive health equity by partnering with our patients and providing informed choices about contraception and pregnancy options, helping each individual achieve their reproductive goals.
Available Clinical Care
Whether considering pregnancy options or contraceptive choices, accurate information with compassionate support is really important. The following services are typically provided:
- Medication abortion
- Procedural abortion in the office or the operating room
- Management of pregnancy loss, miscarriage, or abnormal or ectopic pregnancy
- Placement and removal of intrauterine devices and implants
- Expertise in care for people with complex medical conditions such as heart, lung, and kidney conditions
| Service Category | Description of Care |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy Termination | First and second trimester termination, including medication and procedural options. |
| Contraceptive Care | Reversible and permanent choices, method counseling, and surgery to remove or block tubes. |
| Medical Expertise | Care for individuals with complex medical conditions including neurologic and autoimmune issues. |