"Doctors aren't the only ones who have training in psychiatric issues. Let's extend the narrative further. Nurses have some training - could a nurse order an abortion? Could a psychologist? How about a high school counselor?"

Your questions are of a regulatory nature and outside the purveyance of physicians.  But I would fight to keep the ordering of procedures under the aegis of physicians.  Could it be done by others?  Yes.  Should it be done by others?  No.  I could probably wire your home, but wouldn't you rather have a trained electrician? 

A collaborative effort would be best, with physicians, nurses and clinical pysch persons working together.  There is also that new-fangled "ethics" person in hospitals, whom no one would mistake as a Conservative, that relish this type of conflict resolution. 

Of course, none of this collaboration is necessary if the Law does not require psychological enquiry, just that a female requests an abortion is all that's needed.  The ultimate reason recorded by the institution is inconsequential to obtaining the abortion and only serves a legal record keeping purpose and a potential propaganda tool.

"You see, once you don't presume that it requires a professional confrontation to get an abortion, the rest of the myth dissolves. It falls like a house of cards."

The result of going to an abortion clinic and enquiring about obtaining an abortion is analogous to going to a surgeon and asking their opinion about a problem.  Both entities are geared for one course of action only - surgery.  You don't send a patient to a surgeon to get clearance for taking a pill.  Similarly, the abortion clinic is setup to facillitate an abortion with every patient.  I have no doubt that all too often the folks working in abortion clinics feel a bit sad and dumbfounded when a patient decides NOT to have an abortion - poor, ignorant sally will suffer with that baby.  So... my point is yes it is a house of cards, a stacked deck even, and using non-professionals will probably not increase the number of abortions performed - the environment is already heavily weighted in favor of abortion.

"The moment you say "doctor," everyone salutes and thanks God the doctor is here."

Except for rural people and the elderly, the respect of physicians just ain't what it used to be.  If they're like this in your area, I'd think about putting a shingle out in your town! 

The consumerism spin that Medicine and patient's are being pitched is not helping either.  Medicine, dealing with ill people, is not like any other business, and will never be as good as it can be under the constraints of the modern business model.  Bacteria, virii and cancer just do not adhere to Modern Man's timetables.  A coding system with nearly the same complexity as the IRS tax codes does not help.  Neither do billing systems that are designed and implemented to stonewall collections, or, the Twilight Zone battle of ordering tests and treatments for your patients from recalcitrant insurers.  And don't get me started about contracts with no fee schedules available (like going shopping not knowing how much money you need to take, and once there, there are no prices on anything until after you purchase) or mandatory acceptance of crappy plans to keep the ones you really want.

(Major midnight rant /off)

Time and money are not on the side of your physician.  If you know where people are as respectful and appreciative as you wrote, please tell me so I can work there. 

"The health exception myth exploits the proper respect for doctors into a moral cover for abortion. In most cases, the woman wants the abortion before she walks in the door. The health exception is just a dodge."

Agreed. 

Hi Ster.

Keep a safe, assured distance from Trolls.  They are known vectors of malaise and discontent.

Please return him to his spiderhole when you are finished playing.