A bill that will make abortion legal when a pregnant woman’s life is at serious risk was presented in parliament on Monday. 

The first reading was presented by Health Minister Chris Fearne at the end of the morning parliamentary sitting. The motion was seconded by fellow MP Michael Farrugia who, like Fearne, is a doctor by profession.

The amendments are intended to free doctors and pregnant women from the threat of criminal prosecution if a pregnancy is terminated for reasons related to the woman’s health.

At present, abortion is prohibited at law in all circumstances and both the doctor and mother risk jail time if they go ahead with a termination, irrespective of the reasons why.

The amendments will now proceed to a second reading, during which Fearne will introduce the bill to the House for discussion. The bill may be referred to parliament’s health committee for more in-depth discussion on potential amendments.

Finally, the amendments will be moved for a third reading and a vote.

The Opposition has not yet expressed an opinion on the amendments.

The plans to introduce a legal amendment that will allow doctors to terminate a pregnancy when a woman's life is in danger, or her health is at serious risk were presented last Thursday.

Health Minister Chris Fearne said that only in these cases, through the legal amendment, the doctor and mother would no longer face jail time. He said that there will not be any changes to the current clauses in the law, but rather that an additional clause will be introduced to put the aforementioned into effect. 

The changes to the law come following a summer incident when an American woman, Andrea Prudente, was denied an abortion after she was going through a miscarriage and her life was at risk. She eventually had an abortion in Spain.