THE naivety of obstetrician Professor Phillip Bennett in talking about the dilemma of "selective reduction" during his first newspaper interview set the wagons of the media circus rolling.

When he "accidentally" mentioned that one of two twin foetuses was going to be aborted, the situation rapidly got out of hand.

It led to a pro-life group persuading a High Court judge to grant a temporary injunction to save "the child". Now it's revealed the termination had already taken place. How the injunction was granted in these circumstances it is difficult to imagine. Obviously all the facts could not have been before the court.

Professor Bennett regrets opening his mouth, and so he should. But what is of paramount importance now is that the identity of the woman who decided to have one of twins aborted is kept secret. It is not her fault that the situation was highlighted and she should not be hounded.

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