Perhaps as it currently reads, the proposed amendment to our abortion law leaves too wide a discretion to the medical practitioner which might be ripe for abuse. When is it justified to terminate a pregnancy and who or which authority will have the final word or decision to authorise it?

Of course, from what I can gather, albeit I am no medical professional, while on the one hand, it is not true that abortion is never medically necessary to save a woman’s life, on the other hand, certain specific medical conditions may require the termination of a pregnancy to avoid fatal complications for the mother. One of the commonest causes is when the water breaks early in pregnancy, leading to a life-threatening infection. Another cause, though not so common, is a placental abruption, which is when the placenta starts to separate from the uterus and which is another condition that could fatally impact a pregnant women’s life. The other condition in which staying pregnant comes at a very high risk of death for the mother is preeclampsia early in pregnancy, less than 24 weeks, and which involves developing high blood pressure and signs of organ damage.

Is it possible, then, to fine-tune the amendment in this sense and perhaps also schedule the specific medical situations in which the termination of a pregnancy is justified?

 

Dr Mark Said

Msida