Back Print this page
Legalbrief   |   your legal news hub Thursday 28 March 2024

Proposed abortion law changes rejected

MPs have rejected a proposed Bill by the ACDP that insists women who want an abortion must have ultrasounds first and undergo mandatory counselling‚ which could include making the woman look at pictures of foetuses. The Bill was written by MP Cherrylyn Dudley‚ under advice from conservative group Doctors for Life. It was opposed by the Treatment Action Campaign and Section 27, notes a TimesLIVE report. The National Assembly’s Health Committee noted ‘a lack of conclusive evidence that the proposed amendments contained in the Bill will enhance the provision of care; the costs of providing the services as proposed by the Bill are prohibitive; and the proposed amendments in the Bill will present further barriers in accessing termination of pregnancy services’. Based on these reasons‚ the committee said the Bill ‘is not desirable at this stage’. However‚ it added‚ ‘the committee is also of the opinion that greater education and awareness campaigns as well as prevention programmes are needed to ensure that women are equipped with the necessary information in order to make informed decisions concerning their reproductive health and rights’.