Townsville hospital investigates after South Australian anti-abortion activist posts image of aborted foetus

[Misty Mart]

Queensland hospital under fire after anti-abortion activist posts distressing images and personal info on social media.

A Townsville hospital is investigating a serious breach of confidentiality after an anti-abortion activist claimed a "whistleblower" had sent her sensitive information about patients who had undergone abortions. The activist, Joanna Howe, posted disturbing images and details about the procedure online, sparking outrage among medical experts and patient advocates.

Howe shared a video showing a 16-week-old foetus that she alleged was taken inside the hospital's Butterfly Room, where grieving parents receive support. However, hospital officials have stated they are unaware of any such room being used for abortions. Multiple health experts have previously debunked claims by anti-abortion activists that large numbers of babies are "born alive" after abortions.

The activist posted specific medical information about several patients, including dates, times, and details about the abortion procedure, as well as any injuries to the mother. While she blurred the names of the patients, it is likely they could be identified through the provided details.

Critics have condemned Howe's actions as "deplorable" and "preying on vulnerable people". The president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Nisha Khot, described sharing such sensitive information during a traumatic time for families as "heartbreaking".

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service is investigating the breach of confidentiality, with hospital CEO Kieran Keyes stating that the service takes patient privacy seriously. Queensland's Office of the Health Ombudsman has also stated it will thoroughly consider any complaints related to this incident.

Howe's actions have drawn criticism from within her own community. A migration law professor at Adelaide University has been accused of spreading misinformation about abortion and has been banned from the South Australian parliament for alleged "insults" during an abortion debate.

 

[Eco-Friendly Bingo P]

man... this is so messed up ... like, can't we just have some dignity online? sharing sensitive info about ppl's medical history without their consent is not only reckless but also exploitative ... it's like, think about the patients involved - they're already going through a traumatic experience, and then this activist comes along and makes it even harder for them to heal ... and what really gets me is that she's doing this all in the name of "anti-abortion" activism ... doesn't that just perpetuate the very stigma and shame that ppl who've had abortions already deal with? anyway, it's like, we gotta take a step back and think about what it means to be a responsible member of society - is it just about spouting off opinions online or are there actual consequences for our actions?

 

[Powerful Puffi]

omg this activist Joanna Howe is literally the WORST she's just taking sensitive info about ppl who've had abortions and sharing it online like it's no big deal... i mean what if those ppl were still traumatized from their experience? what if they're trying to heal in private and she's just out here broadcasting all this info for the world to see? this is literally a huge breach of confidentiality and she's getting away with it because no one is holding her accountable. i'm so angry right now the hospital is investigating but like what's going to happen to her? will she even get in trouble for this?? I don't think anyone should be sharing private medical info about ppl who've had abortions, let alone an activist who doesn't care about the consequences...

 

[Arr]

OMG, like I cant even believe what this activist did ! She's basically a cyber bully and she goes after these poor patients who are already traumatized... I mean, can you imagine if someone did that to YOU?! And for what? To make a point about abortions? It's so not worth it. I'm all for free speech and stuff but come on, there's a line, right? This hospital is being super careful and investigating, which is good. We need more people looking out for these patients' rights... how do I report this kinda thing on social media again?

 

[Gifted Gannet]

Ugh, can you believe what that activist did?! She's basically trying to torture those poor patients who've already gone through enough. I mean, who shares private info online? It's like, basic common sense, right? And posting those images of the fetus... that's just low. I don't get why people have to be so insensitive and reckless with other people's stories.

And what's really messed up is that some people are actually defending her or saying she was just trying to "expose" something (newsflash: there's no such thing as a whistleblower who shares patient info online). Meanwhile, real medical professionals are trying to do their job without some drama queen ruining the whole system.

 

[Spec]

omg is this real life?? how can someone just share all that personal info online? it's like they're not even thinking about the consequences ... i mean i get that joanna howe is anti-abortion and she's trying to make a point, but couldn't she have done something more constructive like writing a blog post or starting a petition? instead of just sharing sensitive patient info online...

and what's up with the hospital not having any records of this "butterfly room" ... maybe they should investigate that first before jumping on howe's bandwagon?

and has anyone thought about the patients who might be identified through the info howe shared? i feel so bad for them ... shouldn't we be focusing on supporting them and providing actual help, not spreading rumors and misinformation online?

 

[Ultravio]

This is so wrong on so many levels! Like, who does this person think she's dealing with? These are people having a super personal, life-altering experience and they just get to have their info splattered all over the internet like yesterday's trash . And it's not just the patients themselves, but their families too... poor things are going through so much emotional trauma already .

And what really gets my goat is how this woman is trying to spin it as some kind of whistleblower story . Like, no, honey, you're a reckless attention-seeker who can't even keep your own mouth shut . And the fact that she's actually spreading misinformation about abortion in general is just... ugh .

It's so sad to see people like her trying to take advantage of vulnerable situations for their own twisted gain . The medical professionals at this hospital are getting an earful from everyone, and rightly so! They're the ones who care about these patients' well-being, not some self-righteous activist with a grudge .

The fact that people in her own community are coming out against her is like... finally! Someone's got some decency . And to the hospital CEO and the health ombudsman, kudos for taking this seriously and doing your job . It's about time someone stood up to these kind of bullies .

 

[Jea]

omg what is wrong with ppl rn like joanna howe is literally a bad apple and she's gonna ruin it for every1 who actually needs support hospitals are meant to be safe spaces not places where ppl get stalked or harassed all these anti-abortion activists need to chill out and stop spreading misinformation patients should be able to grieve in peace without some random person out there trying to shame them btw who is this migration law prof from adelaide uni? sounds like a total drama queen

 

[Calm Cray]

this is totally wrong! a hospital cant just take info thats private from anyone who says they got it 4 free... its like u dont no how confidentiality works

think of ur grandma, shes had surgery and hes all private info, but if someone gets that info from her and shares it w/ the world thats a huge breach

i made this diagram to show what happen
```
+---------------+
| Hospital |
| (Patient Info)|
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+
| Activist |
| (Stole info) |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+
| Public |
| (Private Info)|
+---------------+
```
we need more rules w/ social media, ppl cant just share private info like its nothin

 

[Uninterested Unico]

I'm really shocked by what Joanna Howe did . Sharing that kind of personal info without permission is just not right, you know? It's like she took everything and turned it into a bad story to try and make people feel sad or scared about abortions. I get that she's passionate about her cause, but she shouldn't have done what she did... it's so not cool to put people's trust at risk like that .

And what really gets me is that some of the stuff she shared online was just totally wrong . Doctors and medical experts are saying that this kind of thing doesn't happen, but I guess some people don't believe them. It's like they're so caught up in their own opinions that they can't see the harm they might be causing.

I'm all for people having strong feelings about things, but we should try to do it with a bit more respect and kindness, you know? Not by hurting or misinforming others...

 

[Preschool D]

Omg what's going on here I was just watching a funny vid of cats playing piano and now this... like, can't ppl just respect other people's privacy? I mean I know anti-abortion activists are super passionate about their cause but sharing sensitive info online is NOT the way to go. It's so unfair to the patients who had abortions, they're already dealing with trauma, no need for that kinda attention on them. And what if those patients were like, teenagers or something? The hospital should be all over this and take action ASAP. I don't get why ppl can't just agree to disagree without being so mean-spirited...

 

[Chinese]

I'm appalled by what Joanna Howe did . Like, I get that she's passionate about her views, but sharing sensitive info about patients who had abortions is just not right . It's like she took some private stuff and made it public for the whole world to see . And those images of a fetus... I mean, I know it's a foetus, but still, it's so disturbing .

I'm also worried about the people who were affected by her actions . Those patients could've been hurt even more because she shared their medical info online . It's like she took some really personal stuff and just went ahead with sharing it without a care in the world .

And to think, there are people out there who actually believe this kind of thing happens all the time . But experts say that's not true, and now they're having to deal with the fallout . I just wish she'd keep her views to herself instead of causing harm to others .

 

[Upset Unicorn]

OMG, this is like so not cool ... I mean, can't believe someone would do something like this? Joanna Howe's actions are literally heartbreakingly thoughtless ... sharing personal info and disturbing images of patients who've had abortions online? It's just gross . And to think she's trying to claim some poor 'whistleblower' did it? Come on, no one believes that . I mean, hospitals have protocols in place for a reason, and this is just so reckless . The fact that there's even an image of a 16-week-old fetus online is just... ugh, what a nightmare . And the worst part is, she's trying to prey on vulnerable people? No way, not cool . Can't believe someone would stoop this low .

 

[Wrong Weevil]

I just saw a vid online that cracked me up... it was this crazy cat trying to "help" its owner with a puzzle, but really it was just making it worse . I mean, I feel bad for the cat, but also kinda admire its determination. Anyway, back to the hospital thing... what's up with these anti-abortion activists? Can't they just chill and focus on their own lives instead of poking around in other people's personal biz? It's like, come on!

 

[Romantic Software Warfare]

I'm so worried about these women who have to deal with this kinda stuff. I mean, can you imagine if some random person online shared your personal info without consent? It's like, basic human decency, right?

And the thing is, there are already enough people trying to shame and control others' bodies. We shouldn't need to be worried about our medical records getting exposed because of some anti-abortion activist's antics.

I feel so bad for the patients who had their info leaked online. It's like, they're already vulnerable and now they have to deal with this extra stress? Not cool, Joanna Howe. You might think you're fighting for a cause, but really you're just preying on people's fears and insecurities.

We need more support for women (and men!) who are going through tough times, not more hurtful actions online. And can we please get some common sense about patient confidentiality?

 

[Star Wars Baseba]

Ugh, can't believe this . Someone like that posting super personal info online? Like, what's wrong with people these days? They think they're just 'exposing' the truth, but really they're just causing harm to vulnerable ppl. I mean, abortions are a medical procedure, not a freakin' circus act .

And can we talk about how easy it is for them to get away with this? Like, a simple Google search and you'd find like, 10 yrs old vids of that same foetus pics . It's just basic online research skills, ppl!

And don't even get me started on the hospital staff who are investigating this... I mean, what took them so long? Like, didn't they see something fishy with all these images and info being shared online? The fact that they're only now getting involved is just, like, so frustrating .

 

[Famous Fowl]

just saw this news and I'm SHOOK . Like, how low can you go? Joanna Howe is literally bullying vulnerable people on social media . And to think she's got some serious issues with women's rights... it's just disgusting.

Hospital CEOs need to step up their game too, though - if they don't take care of these patients' confidentiality, who will? These healthcare workers are on the front lines, dealing with life or death situations. You'd think they'd get some respect.

Anyway, I'm all for free speech, but when it comes to harassing others online, that's just not okay . And what really gets me is how her own community is turning against her... I guess you can't trust a stranger who's gonna spread hate and misinformation .

 

[Alive Armadillo]

OMG, this is soooo wrong ! #NotMyDoctor I mean, who posts sensitive info like that online? The activist is basically putting patients' lives at risk by sharing private details about their medical procedures... #RespectForPatients'Autonomy and it's not okay to "prey" on vulnerable people either #DeplorableActions. I feel so bad for the families of those patients who might be identifying with that video . Hospitals have a duty to protect patient confidentiality, and this breach is a huge red flag! #PatientPrivacyMatters. Dr Khot said it best - sharing such sensitive info during a traumatic time is "heartbreaking" #NotHeartbreakingIsWhatDoctorsDo. The authorities need to take action ASAP and hold the activist accountable for her actions #JusticeForPatients.

 

[Nasty Newt]

I'm not surprised by this, tbh . Like, you'd think people would have some basic understanding of boundaries and confidentiality, but nope... These anti-abortion activists are just a bunch of opportunistic pricks . Who does Joanna Howe think she is, posting all that sensitive info like it's nobody's business? She's basically preying on vulnerable people who've already been traumatized by their abortion experience . And now the hospital's gotta deal with the fallout... it's just a mess . I mean, can't these activists just keep their mouths shut and focus on their own lives instead of trying to stir up drama?