The premiere of the anti-abortion movie ‘Unplanned’ has caused sparks and controversy amongst keyboard warriors.  ‘Unplanned’ will premiere in Malta at St. James Cavalier on 30 October. The premiere is being held under the Patronage of the President of Malta George Vella.

The film is based on the memoir of Abby Johnson, a real-life Planned Parenthood clinic director in Texas, who became an anti-abortion advocate and activist. The movie examines the dynamics of the abortion debate in America and gives an insight of the medical clinics where abortions are performed and also depicts the procedure itself. Certain scenes are extremely graphic, which is why the movie was given an R rating.

‘Unplanned’ has received a mix of reviews. Whilst certain reviewers haves described the movie as a “testament to the truth” and that it “provides some food for thought for the undecided”, other reviewers question the movie’s true motives. Variety said that the film “isn’t good drama but it is effective propaganda” riddled with medical untruths.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a foetus does not have the physiological capacity to perceive pain until at least 24 weeks of gestation. 

The Malta Independent contacted both Life Network Foundation Chairperson Dr Miriam Sciberras, and Dr Jamie Grech from Doctors for Choice Malta, regarding the screening of ‘Unplanned’.

 

This movie is against the biggest industry which is creating genocide under the rule of law: LNF

When asked whether Life Network Foundation was aware that ‘Unplanned’ was being labelled as being medically incorrect, Dr Miriam Sciberras said that the Foundation was aware of the reviews as it is aware of a campaign discrediting the truth. “I know that there is a whole campaign which is trying to discredit the truth that an abortion is killing a child.”

She said that the movie was against the biggest industry which is creating genocide in the world under the rule of law. “People will criticise this movie, not because it is not the truth, but because it is a debate of when foetal pain begins.”

She said this is not the first movie to change the lives of abortion providers - the anti-abortion film ‘The Silent Scream’ was narrated by Bernard Nathanson, who was the co-founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws but later became a pro-life activist. 

“These people changed their life, people like Abby Johnson who actually was an abortion provider, but changed when she understood the truth of abortions.”

She said that people do not want to be aware of the reality of abortion because it causes discomfort and that the movie exposes abortion for what it really is.

On the statement by the American Colleague of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Sciberras explained that ACOG changed the definition of pregnancy and feels peaceful performing abortions, therefore would criticise the movie. 

“This is a very emotional subject and brings discomfort to many, but the message of the film is a humane one. Abby Johnson thought she was helping women, but she learnt the reality of abortion. No one wants to the victim’s perspective, the victim who is silent and loses their rights.”

Dr Sciberras said Dr Anthony Levatino, a former gynaecologist who performed over 1,200 abortions but who now is a pro-life gynaecologist, also stars in the movie.  She said that later on in the year, Dr Levantino will be in Malta to discuss his journey from pro-choice to anti-abortion.

“As a foundation we provide post-abortion sessions and, from meeting with these women you can feel the trauma they are enduring and that they know exactly what they did and it torments them.  One has to acknowledge the truth of what abortion really is and that is what the film does.”

Dr Sciberras also explained that the Foundation wanted to hold the film premiere under the patronage of the President and to raise funds for the crisis pregnancy helpline.

 

Unlikely propaganda in this movie will not change the discussion: Doctors for Choice

The propaganda in this movie will not likely change the discussion on abortion in Malta, said Dr Jamie Grech from Doctors for Choice Malta. “Anti-choice individuals might attend and attempt to normalise the falsities conveyed through the movie, and the pro-choice individuals will steer clear of a poor work of fiction.”

He said that the group believes in freedom of speech and expression, but that the public screening of the movie is irresponsible. “It appears to promote untruths and lies, and such false messages increase violence both towards women and girls seeking healthcare and those medical providers aiming to help women.”

Dr Grech said a major point in the movie is when an abortion is carried out at 13 weeks’ gestation, where a foetus is reacting and responding to the pain of the procedure. “Cognitive function and the perception of pain is not present in a 13-week-old foetus- that is a medical fact. We haven’t come up with that ourselves, nor have pro-choice movements or human right campaigners; these are facts coming from the biggest obstetric and gynaecological associations in the world (RCOG, ACOG).”

Grech explained that abortions are typically performed before the 13 week mark, and quoted UK statistics that 90 per cent of abortions happen before 13 weeks and 80 per cent of all abortions happen before 10 weeks. “In the case of the movie, a 13-week one is a very rare scenario at best.”

He also pointed out that the movie’s portal that serious complications commonly happen in abortive procedures is also untrue.

“If abortions were unsafe, they simply would not be carried out – serious complications are rare, as they also are with other common procedures; the loss of a testicle following an inguinal hernia repair, the need for a stoma following a colonoscopy, or a major unexpected haemorrhage during other surgeries. These are all recognised but rare complications to otherwise safe procedures. Informed consent taken prior to a procedure details and explains these complications, and their rarity.”

Dr Grech said the movie’s description of post-procedural care following a termination of pregnancy is unreliable. “We obviously cannot speak for the American organisation ‘Planned Parenthood’, but we seriously doubt post-operative care would be denied to any patient.” He highlighted that when a patient goes to Mater Dei Hospital following an abortion, they would receive after-care.

He said that pro-choice doctors often have to deal with accusations of making money from abortion, a misconception driven further in the movie.

“This outrageous claim is simply irrelevant in Malta, where national healthcare is delivered free of charge. The people benefiting from the introduction of safe abortive services in our country would be our women and girls, and ultimately society as a whole.”

When asked what the group thinks about the premier being held under the President’s patronage, Grech said that Doctors for Choice would be deeply disappointed that any local doctor would put their name to the movie, saying that it would be irresponsible and detract from a legitimate medical discussion on the matter.

“The allegation that said doctor may in fact be the President of Malta is only more concerning. The health of the nation will certainly not benefit from this.”

He said that to support the spread of medical misinformation is truly damaging to society and explained that anti-vaxxers had spoken untruths about vaccines, which had left doctors with cases of measles in recent months.

“We’d rather not imagine what consequences we might face in the wake of supporting untruths on abortion - the healthcare of our women and girls hangs in the balance.”