British Columbia's first free-standing feminist run abortion clinic, located in Vancouver, B.C. and opened in 1988.
"...they were having problems getting the baby out...just relax, it's -- 'We'll get it out,' and -- and then at one point he said, 'This is a tough little bugger, ' you know, doesn't want to come..." - (Testimony given under oath at BC Provincial Court November 29, 1995 of mother of a 15-year-old patient present at her daughter's abortion at Everywoman's Health Centre)
I am extremely distressed at the extremely poor internal health of the clinic. I believe that a situation has been created where the clinic is more threatened by internal forces than external forces. I am heartsick. I only hope that we can resolve this before we destroy each other and possibly the clinic as well. - Margaret Panton (September 23, 1995)
Despite feigned ignorance on the part of Vancouver's media, all has not been well within the walls of Everywoman's Health Centre. Entire board resignations, even a lawsuit against the clinic on behalf of Margaret Panton, the former clinic administrator, has created an environment that is "interesting" to say the least. These documents, all in the public domain, document the charges and counter charges made by staff and board members, as well as the "interesting" way that the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons regulates, inspects, and abides by their own regulations in dealing with clinics such as this.
Excerpted statements are posted in many of these documents, which can lead to charges that these statements have been taken out of context. To counter that, the entire document has been scanned and available for viewing. In some instances, the quality of the document is such that a scan would not suffice. Also taken into consideration is everyday business of the clinic. In this regard those items have not been scanned- as there is no wish to violate the privacy rights of individuals.
Document Archive
Issues
ACCREDITATION
Everywoman's Health Centre began performing abortions on December 1, 1988. All health facilities in British Columbia fall under the guidelines of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. Although informed of the new abortion clinic, officials with the College did not inspect Everywoman's until August 22 of 1989, and granted their "conditional" approval on October 19th of 1989.
Everywoman's Health Centre was allowed to operate for over half a year without an on-site inspection or accreditation.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons informed Everywoman's Health Centre on January 27, 1993 that they would have to acquire a heart defribillator and electrocardiograph in order to keep their accreditation. Press accounts document Everywoman's initially balking at the idea of having necessary life-saving equipment on site. Membership of Everywoman's was split, with a motion by some members to ignore the College guidelines (later defeated). After a mass resignation of Board members, the newly instituted Board decided to follow the College's guidelines. The College had informed Everywoman's that unless they responded to the new requirement by June of 1993, their accreditation would be taken away. Technically speaking, Everywoman's Health Centre lost their accreditation on June 27 of 1993, as they had not responded to the College requirement. Yet the College did not check on the status of their demand until September 9, 1993. The clinic finally responded on October 4, 1993 and agreed to meeting the requirements for re-accreditation.
Hardly the policing one would expect of an institution that is required to protect the health of British Columbians.
Documentation for this section was courtesy of a Freedom of Information request. It should be noted that Dr. M. Vanandel, representing the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons as Deputy Registrar, made a presentation on October 29 of 1998 to the Special Legislative Committee examining the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. He made reference to our request for material stating the information involving accreditation of the abortion clinic would be used to "harass". One speculates why mere provision of information to the public could be construed as "harassment". It is most likely the threat of embarrassment that the public might discover that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia allowed a "medical health facility" such as an abortion clinic to operate without accreditation, without an initial inspection, then later allow it to operate past an imposed deadline of meeting the requirement for life-saving equipment .
MASS RESIGNATIONS
In 1993, the entire Board of Director's of Everywoman's Health Centre resigned. A plea was sent out to members on July 21, 1993 to stand for election, as the AGM held on June 9th, 1993 found no one willing to stand for election to run the society.
EVERYWOMAN'S SUED BY FORMER CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR
On September 30, 1996, Margaret Panton, former administrator of Everywoman's Health Centre filed a writ in B.C. Supreme Court alleging wrongful dismissal of her position at EWHC. A 'Statement of Defence' on behalf of the clinic was filed on October 21, 1996. The trial took place in B.C. Supreme Court on August 10 - 14, 1998. It produced a host of fascinating documentary material on the working of Everywoman's such as Board resignations, insults between employees, hate mail sent by an employee to Panton and the bad blood relationship between Margaret Panton and Canadian Communist Party member Kim Zander - spokesperson for Everywoman's and the BC Coalition for Abortion Clinics. Assisted by partner and member of the BC Coalition for Abortion Clinics Will Offley, Panton lost her lawsuit against Everywoman's. She appealed and won. In 2001 the courts issued a decision for costs and lost wages.