Discount offer for pupil abortions causes storm
By Chen Xingjie |
August 22, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SOUTHWEST China hospital has caused outrage with a promotion campaign for abortions targeting students.
The summer vacation is normally a peak period for students to become pregnant and have abortions.
Some Internet users strongly criticized the promotion as unethical and encouraging adolescents to have sex, while others regarded it as just a commercial activity.
The Huaxi Gynecology Hospital in Chongqing Municipality ran an ad saying that girls who showed their student cards were entitled to a 50 percent discount for abortions, yesterday's Guangzhou Daily reported.
In the advertisement, an image of a girl in school uniform says: "I'm a student and have privileges!"
Hospital officials confirmed to the Guangzhou-based newspaper that it had launched the discount program.
But the campaign had finished and replaced by another promotion which involves 500-yuan (US$73) discount coupons. The coupons are also available to students.
The hospital says on its Website that it is licensed by Chongqing Health Bureau.
An online poster criticized the ad as "shameful."
"Jin3356" said the ad sounded like it was encouraging student pre-marital sex.
But others suggested not to overreact to the activity.
"It is better than having students undergo abortions at unlicensed clinics," said "Jianguofeidemao."
Lawyer Liu Yong from Guangdong Bohao Law Firm said the advertisement was not illegal but thought it may sound unethical to many people, particularly parents.
The summer vacation is normally a peak period for students to become pregnant and have abortions.
Some Internet users strongly criticized the promotion as unethical and encouraging adolescents to have sex, while others regarded it as just a commercial activity.
The Huaxi Gynecology Hospital in Chongqing Municipality ran an ad saying that girls who showed their student cards were entitled to a 50 percent discount for abortions, yesterday's Guangzhou Daily reported.
In the advertisement, an image of a girl in school uniform says: "I'm a student and have privileges!"
Hospital officials confirmed to the Guangzhou-based newspaper that it had launched the discount program.
But the campaign had finished and replaced by another promotion which involves 500-yuan (US$73) discount coupons. The coupons are also available to students.
The hospital says on its Website that it is licensed by Chongqing Health Bureau.
An online poster criticized the ad as "shameful."
"Jin3356" said the ad sounded like it was encouraging student pre-marital sex.
But others suggested not to overreact to the activity.
"It is better than having students undergo abortions at unlicensed clinics," said "Jianguofeidemao."
Lawyer Liu Yong from Guangdong Bohao Law Firm said the advertisement was not illegal but thought it may sound unethical to many people, particularly parents.
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