The Government’s amendment ‘opens the door to the introduction of abortion’ – academics
A group of experts in medicine, science, social and family policy, philosophy, ethics, psychology and law say that the government’s amendment to the law the release of doctors and pregnant women from the threat of criminal prosecution if a pregnancy is terminated for reasons related to the woman’s health is “opening the door to abortion”.
In a statement, the academics said that the Government does not only talk about cases where the woman is at risk of dying, but also adds the words “or her health in serious danger”.
They also noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations declared that the word “health” also means mental health.
“Therefore, with the Government’s amendment, a pregnancy can be terminated, not only in cases where the woman’s life is at risk, but also in cases of mental health conditions,” the statement said. “This means that abortion will be allowed if a woman is going through serious mental conditions, none of which should ever justify the sacrifice of a child’s life.”
Therefore, instead of this amendment as proposed by the Government:
243B. No crime under article 241(2) or article 243 shall be committed when the termination of a pregnancy results from a medical intervention aimed at protecting the health of a pregnant woman suffering from a medical complication that could put her life in ‘risk or her health is in grave danger.
We are proposing this amendment:
No crime is committed under article 241(2) or article 243 when the death or bodily harm of an unborn child results from a medical intervention carried out with the aim of saving the life of -mother where there is a real and substantial risk of loss of the mother’s life from physical illness.
The academics said they would soon publish a paper detailing the rationale behind our proposed amendment. We will also be publishing the full list of professionals who are also objecting to the Government’s amendment and support our proposed amendment.”
The amendments to the law were put on the Table in Parliament on Monday.
At present, abortion is prohibited by law in all circumstances and both doctor and mother risk imprisonment if they go ahead with a termination, regardless of the reasons why.