Bertram Wainer

Dr-bertram-wainer

Bertram Wainer (1928 – 16 January 1987) was an Australian doctor and activist who played a significant role in the reform of abortion laws in Victoria, Australia. His efforts were instrumental in the decriminalization of abortion in the state, making it more accessible and safer for women.

Early Life and Education

Bertram Wainer was born in Scotland in 1928. He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and graduated with a medical degree. After completing his education, he emigrated to Australia, where he began his medical practice.

Career

Wainer initially worked as a general practitioner in Melbourne, Victoria. During his practice, he encountered numerous women who had suffered from complications due to illegal abortions. This experience motivated him to campaign for the reform of abortion laws.

Activism

In the 1960s, abortion was illegal in Victoria, and many women resorted to unsafe methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Wainer's activism began when he publicly exposed the dangers and corruption associated with illegal abortions. He provided evidence of police corruption and the exploitation of women by illegal abortion providers.

Wainer's efforts led to the establishment of the Menhennitt ruling in 1969, which allowed abortions to be performed legally if a doctor believed that continuing the pregnancy would pose a serious threat to the woman's physical or mental health. This ruling was a significant step towards the decriminalization of abortion in Victoria.

Later Life and Legacy

Bertram Wainer continued to advocate for women's reproductive rights throughout his life. He founded the Fertility Control Clinic in Melbourne, which provided safe and legal abortion services. His work laid the foundation for the eventual decriminalization of abortion in Victoria in 2008.

Wainer passed away on 16 January 1987, but his legacy lives on through the continued fight for reproductive rights and the ongoing work of the Fertility Control Clinic.

See Also

• Abortion in Australia
• Reproductive rights
• Fertility Control Clinic
• Menhennitt ruling