Poll by Doctor Shows MDs Object to Tactics of Abortion Protesters

Like many doctors, Christopher Khoury had remained mostly silent in the continuing debate over abortion. But the Escondido psychiatrist took a step toward activism shortly after 130 demonstrators were arrested during a July 8 anti-abortion protest at a Poway women’s clinic.

Khoury, an acquaintance of the doctor targeted during that protest, decided to poll Palomar Medical Center’s 252 staff doctors on the increasing targeting of medical facilities for anti-abortion protests.

Khoury persuaded 20 fellow staff members at Palomar to circulate a memo that calls for “the police and courts to respond humanely but promptly and effectively to bring this form of violence to a halt.” The memo described abortion protests held at medical offices and clinics as “totally inappropriate” behavior.

Of 162 doctors who responded to the memo, 85% agreed that the emotionally charged protests illegally infringe upon the private relationship enjoyed by doctors and patients. More than 10% abstained, but only 3% voiced outright disagreement.

Half of the doctors who agreed with Khoury requested anonymity, but 81 agreed to make their objections publicly.

Doctors, who traditionally have remained silent on many public issues, “are very sensitive about privacy and the patient-doctor relationship,” Khoury said Wednesday.

Khoury described recent abortion demonstrations as “relatively minor irritants” to most physicians. But “the debate over abortion is going to occur much more publicly” following the recent Supreme Court ruling, Khoury said.

“The proper forum for the debate is not the doctor’s waiting

room,” Khoury said. “There have to be some rules as to how that debate will take place.”

William Boyce, a surgeon who has practiced in Escondido for 35 years, supported Khoury because “you just don’t enter people’s properties (to) harass and interrupt . . . what’s going on. That’s a most serious infraction.”

Doctors might feel more comfortable remaining silent, but “they are affected by all of the laws and social trends as much as everyone else,” Boyce said Wednesday.

Khoury was drawn into the growing public debate when 130 abortion protesters were arrested after demonstrating at a Poway women’s clinic operated by Dr. Bruce J. Tarzy,a former Poway mayor. Tarzy, through a spokeswoman, on Wednesday declined to comment on the informal survey because he had not yet seen the results.

Khoury undertook the petition drive because “having public support like this would mean a lot to physicians who have been victimized” by demonstrations. Khoury described those doctors as being “harassed and essentially kidnaped” by demonstrators.

“Those doctors go through hell,” Boyce said. “They’re in their private office, and it’s not a public building.” He said the demonstrators are disturbing “a very tender relationship between doctors and patients.”

As a psychiatrist, Khoury has on several occasions counseled women who were considering abortions to end what he described as pregnancies surrounded by “tragic circumstances.”

“I shared the difficult decisions they go through,” Khoury said. “I believe that . . . the woman should be making that decision without being harassed.”

Hospital spokesman Alain Jourdier said Wednesday that Khoury acted in an unofficial capacity when he polled staff members.

Earlier this week, the San Diego Medical Society announced that it “strongly objects” to anti-abortion rallies being staged outside medical offices and clinics. The society, which represents 2,800 of the county’s 6,000 doctors, “cannot condone . . . recent attempts to harass patients or prevent them from seeking treatment,” medical society President Lynn Sheffey said Monday.