The government will be making changes to a proposed bill which, some argued, would be giving a carte-blanche for abortion to be introduced, in order to clarify that a fetus which is viable must be born, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Wednesday.

A proposal to amend the Criminal Code to allow abortions to take place when there is a grave risk to the prospective mother’s health, which is now at committee stage in Parliament, had stoked controversy due to some arguing that its wording was not clear enough and hence giving the possibility for abortions to be carried out at any point and in any circumstance.

Fearne however said that the government has continued to discuss the matter since a vote was taken in Parliament on the Bill last December, adding that there are two issues which have come across as being “genuine” worries, both of which will be addressed by amendments to the proposed Bill.

One of them is to ensure that it is clear - although Fearne pointed out that he believes that the wording is already clear enough - that a baby which can be born is born and is allowed to live.

Fearne explained that the amendments would put beyond any doubt that any viable pregnancy must be seen through, with the baby being born.

The second issue raised was that there may be a doctor who abuses from the amendment and allows an abortion to take place when it shouldn’t. 

Fearne said that while he has full trust in the country’s doctors and that anybody who does abuse of their position will answer for them, an amendment to the Bill will be made in order to “minimise” the possibility of abuse as much as possible.

He did not elaborate exactly what form this amendment would take, although media reports have speculated that it could involve a decision on whether a pregnancy termination is required or not to be left in the hands of two or three doctors, rather than just one.

Fearne reiterated that the government’s intention is to save lives and to not preclude anyone from receiving any necessary health treatment.