A woman who was charged with abortion was given a conditional discharge, Doctors for Choice said on Facebook on Thursday.

“What should have never happened, happened today: a Maltese woman was brought to court facing charges of having a medical abortion at home,” the pro-choice NGO has said.

The NGO said its legal team assisted her throughout the ordeal and she was released with a conditional discharge.

Details on the case are scarce as it was held behind closed doors.

“We are informed that throughout the investigation and the entire proceedings she was treated with the dignity and respect that she deserves by the police and our justice system,” the NGO said. “Whilst we appreciate that, it does not change the fact that this should have never, ever happened in the first place.”

The NGO said access to abortion is a basic part of healthcare, and to have women prosecuted for it locally “should put us all to shame.”