Wounded and Abandoned

DOVE 12 review Content Rating Descriptions Synopsis Everyone “knows” that abortion is a safe, fast, easy and relatively painless way to get on with life. But is it true? A teenage girl, along with her friends, research and compare the “truth” of the safety of abortion according to the internet vs. the actual-but-suppressed truth which has been proven by extensive medical research. Three leading pro-life physicians coupled with 3D animations reveal how dangerous an abortion really is to a woman and her future children. Also meet six women, post-abortion, who experienced the lasting health risks of their abortion including sterility, ectopic pregnancy, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Informed Consent section explains that a physician is guilty of medical malpractice if the patient is not fully apprised of a procedure’s health risks. The documentary was written in careful cooperation with The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), through their director, Dr. Donna Harrison, to ensure accuracy. Dove Review Everything we do involves some risk, and to be forewarned is forearmed. So one would assume important medical procedures would come with detailed risk information. But when that procedure means high monetary profit—and power to a feminist movement—the explanation of risks are vacuous at best and downright lies at worst. Ironic that the feminist movement doesn’t demand women receive information crucial to their health. Aborting a baby is sold as a safe “quick fix,” a disposable inconvenience. The only thing quick is the money transfer to the provider’s bank account, while the post-abortive woman faces a lifetime of damage. Writer and director B. Keith Neely brought us Wounded and Abandoned: The Emotional Risks of Abortion and is just as thorough with this documentary investigating the physical risks of abortion. Experts and clinicians explain their findings of physical repercussions of having an abortion. Survivors relate their personal experiences of the effects of abortion in their lives, some quite horrific. Each describes the lack of information with which they were forced to make a decision. They felt the abortion doctors, nurses and counselors deliberately downplayed and veiled the true and dire risks. Nothing was said of the risks of hemorrhaging, infertility, sepsis, pelvic inflammation disease, future ectopic pregnancies and proven links to breast cancer. Premature birth, cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorders in future children were certainly not on the abortion provider’s list of possible complications. A very relevant aspect of the abortion industry is the process of getting informed consent. Neely’s documentary addresses the intentionally difficult legalese of an abortion consent form, designed not to be understood. A frightened, emotional young woman could barely find the line to sign much less understand the deliberately convoluted wording. According to one expert, “Doctors are guilty of malpractice if they don’t get an informed consent.” Keywords: malpractice, informed. This documentary will equip and enlighten. However, due to the subject matter of this film, it isn’t appropriate for younger children, and the Dove Foundation awards it the 12+ Seal. The Dove take Very little information is given to women by abortion providers regarding the physical risks and repercussions of having an abortion. This life-changing information is often hidden, and consent is dubiously extracted from prospective women. What to talk about The feminist movement not protecting women with relevant medical abortion information, the problems faced by future children of post-abortive women and the call to use malpractice suits against providers who don’t clearly inform of the risks. Content Description Faith: The film seeks to support the fight against the killing of babies created in God’s image. Integrity: A central part of the film revolves around expert and tested clinical facts. Sex: None Language: None Violence: None Drugs: None Nudity: None Other: Intended to enhance understanding, a simple computer-generated image representing a cross-section of a uterus undergoing an abortion is shown but could be disturbing to some. Info Company: B. Keith Neely/Wounded and Abandoned Writer: B. Keith Neely Director: B. Keith Neely Producer: B. Keith Neely Genre: Documentary Runtime: 47 min. Starring: Survivors Cheryl, Kim, Cindy-Lynne, Andre, Michelle, Denise, Mayoli, Amanda, Alyssa Medical and legal Experts: Jean Echlin, MSc., Dr. Margaret Somerville, Dr. Byron Calhoun, Dr. Angela LanFranchi, Dr. Priscilla Coleman, Dr. Deborah Zeni, Dr. Barrie deVeber

DOVE review Synopsis Women enter into an abortion believing what the media and even their own doctor have told them—that abortion is a safe, fast, and easy procedure to get on with life. Instead, they discover the emotional pain never leaves and can last “into their 90s.” Abortion research, validated in the courtroom, has found that abortion is emotionally destructive, and among other problems, increases the risks of suicide, relationship breakdown, and addictions. An additional major issue is that professional counsellors are not trained to probe for abortion when presented with self-destructive behavior, so women have nowhere to turn for help: Women have been “wounded and abandoned” by the medical profession. The documentary was written in careful cooperation with The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), through their director, Dr. Donna Harrison, to ensure accuracy. Dove Review Nine women would have done it differently, but they didn’t see the impending emotional consequences of irreversibly ending a life. “Wounded and Abandoned” is their story, but also that of countless women who have been abandoned in the depressive aftermath of abortion. One woman describes her experience as a vacuum of help for her “disenfranchised grief” where others can’t understand her despair in not being able to reconcile the type of person she felt she had turned into. Others related periods of depression, relationship breakdowns, diminished self worth, resulting promiscuity and suicide attempts. What was supposed to be a quick fix turned into a lifetime of torture. They have found that time does not heal. This documentary is solidly supported by an impressive panel of experts and doctors who share their findings and experiences with post abortive women. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, more specifically Post Abortion Stress Disorder, is a lasting phenomenon in post-abortive women and witnessed by a plethora of clinicians. One end-of-life nurse recounts the story of a 92-year-old woman, who after suffering a web of repercussions—nightmares, depression, flashbacks—finally spoke about her abortions, asking God’s forgiveness. Astonishingly her pain medicine requirements diminished 75 percent. It is quickly apparent that emotional and psychological suffering act as destructive waves invading the future lives of post-abortive women (and some men). It threatens future marriages as women detach themselves. It can impair their children’s emotional development and behavior as they act out at home and school. Writer and director B. Keith Neely is thorough and truthful in portraying the poisonous aftermath symptoms of abortion which hurl the woman downward until she hits rock bottom. He also reminds us that God is bigger than any human suffering, as many of the survivors testify that repentance and trust in Christ was their only true healing. Because of the subject matter and detailed descriptions of the abortive procedure, this documentary isn’t meant for children under 12 years old. The Dove Foundation awards the 12+ Seal to this film. Dove Take Backed by extensive research and in-depth interviews, this documentary brings to the forefront the naked truth of the dire emotional risks of aborting a child. What to talk about Abortion has an ongoing destructive nature. Many untruths and deceptions regarding consequences are told to women considering abortion. Future repercussions are a fact and invade others’ lives many years down the road. Content Description Faith: The film promotes repentance, forgiveness and healing. Integrity: A central part of the film revolves around expert and tested clinical facts Sex: Survivors tell of one-night stands, date rape, birth control. No visuals Language: Soft description of date rape Violence: None Drugs: Talk about using drugs and alcohol at a party Nudity: None Other: None Info Company: B. Keith Neely/Wounded and Abandoned Writer: B. Keith Neely Director: B. Keith Neely Producer: B. Keith Neely Genre: Documentary Runtime: 67 min. Starring: Expert participants in documentary: Byron C Calhoun, MD, FACOG, FACS, MBA// Priscilla Coleman, Ph.D// Jean Echlin RN, MSN// Deborah Zeni, MD, CCFP// plus 7 post abortion women and one man Reviewer: Stephanie W.