Abortion

If it isn't a baby, then you aren't pregnant, so

what are you aborting? -Author
Unknown
 What is
Abortion?
• Abortion is described as the expulsion of the
products of conception before the embryo or
fetus is viable. Any interruption of human
pregnancy prior to the 28th week of
gestation or the delivery of a fetus
weighing less than 500 grams is known as
abortion.
Spontaneous Abortion (Miscarriage)
• This is defined as the delivery of a nonviable embryo or
fetus (the fetus cannot survive) before the 20th week of
pregnancy due to fetal or maternal factors.

• Recurrent spontaneous abortion- the occurrence of three or

more consecutive losses of clinically recognized
pregnancies prior to the 20th week of gestation
(Immunological reactions, in which maternal antibodies
mistake the fetus for foreign tissue, have been implicated in
recurrent, or habitual spontaneous abortions).
• It is estimated that at least 20% of all pregnancies end in
miscarriage (estimates range from 15% to 75%). Most occur
in the first two weeks after conception, and in many cases
the mother is not aware of the pregnancy.
 Therapeutic
• This procedure
Abortion is performed to preserve the
health or life of the mother. It can be induced for
medical reasons or an elective decision to end the
pregnancy (eg.prevent the birth of a deformed
child or a child conceived as a result of rape or
incest).

Elective (Induced) Abortion

• Defined as a procedure intended to terminate a
suspected or known intrauterine pregnancy and to
produce a nonviable fetus at any gestational
age(CDC, 2010), deemed necessary by the
woman carrying it and performed at her request.
 Methods Of Conducting Abortions
SUCTION (VACUUM
ASPIRATION) ABORTION
-The cervix is stretched to allow
passage of a hollow suction tube
with a sharp-edged openings
near its tip into the uterus.
-Powerful suction force is then
applied, allowing the fetus to be
ripped apart then suctioned out
of the uterus into a collection
container.
-Most 1st trimester abortions in
North America and the United
Kingdom are done in this manner.
DILATATION & EVACUATION (D and E) ABORTION
-Used for 2nd trimester abortions, at which point in fetal
development the fetal bones become calcified.
SALT POISONING ABORTION
-Used after 16 weeks, this technique is employed often in third
world nations because of its cost effectiveness and ease of
administration.

-A syringe of a concentrated salt solution is injected into the amniotic

fluid via a long needle through the mother‘s abdomen. The fetus then
breathes and swallows the hyper-salted amniotic fluid. The fetus
struggles and sometimes seizes until dead within usually one hour.

-The mother typically then delivers a dead fetus within one to two
days. The fetal skin upon delivery, having been chemically burned
away, usually presents as a glazed red surface.

-This abortion procedure was first developed in Nazi concentration

camps during WorldWar II.
HYSTEROTOMY ABORTION
-Used for late term abortions in rare instances.

-Identical to a Caesarian Section delivery used to deliver a live

baby in the presence of
certain pregnancy/fetal complications, except
the objective there is to deliver a dead fetus.

-The live fetus is first terminated while still in the mother‘s womb,
such as by cutting of the umbilical cord.

-Once the fetus is dead, the fetus is then physically lifted out of the
mother‘s womb and the abortion is completed.
PROSTOGLANDIN ABORTION
Used to abort mid and later term pregnancies. The
hormone is administered to the pregnant woman into the
amniotic fluid or by vaginal suppositories. It induces
violent premature labor contractions, thus expelling the
fetus which usually dies in the process of delivery. Drugs
lethal to the fetus are often injected into the amniotic fluid,
to assure fetal death before delivery.
INDUCED LABOUR (LIVE BIRTH) ABORTION
Premature delivery of a commonly midterm fetus is
induced via various means, the objective being to deliver a
premature baby that is not capable of surviving outside
the uterus.
When such abortions typically produce the complication of
live birth, the now delivered living baby is provided only
―comfort care― - wrapping the infant in a blanket - and
denied all medical and nursing care. Such infants can
linger for hours before dying of ―natural causes.‖
 Background History of
Abortion
• The moral and legal issues raised by the practice
of abortion has tested the philosophers,
theologians, and statesmen of every age since
the dawn of civilization.

• The Stoics' belief that abortion should be

allowed up to the moment of birth was vigorously
opposed by the Pythagoreans who believed that
the soul was infused into the body at conception
and that to abort a fetus would be to commit
murder.
• Early Roman law was silent as to abortion;
and abortion and infanticide was common in
Rome, especially among the upper classes.

• Abortion induced by herbs or manipulation was used

as a form of birth control in ancient Egypt, Greece,
and Rome and probably earlier. In the Middle Ages in
Western Europe it was generally accepted in the early
months of pregnancy.

• Opposition by scholars and the growing influence of

the Christian religion brought about the first
prohibition of abortion during the reign of Severus
( 193-211 A.D.). These laws made abortion a high
criminal offense and subjected a woman who violated
the provisions to banishment.
• Chinese folklore dates back to 3000 BC where
Emperor Shennong prescribed mercury to induce
an abortion.

• In 2nd & 3rd century, Tertullian (A Christian

theologian) described surgical methods for
carrying out abortions.

• In the eight century Sanskrit text instructed

women wishing to induce an abortion to sit over a
pot of steam or stewed onions.

• However, in the 19th century opinion about

abortion changed.
• In 1803, Britain first passed antiabortion laws,
which then became stricter throughout the century.

• In 1869 the Roman Catholic Church

prohibited abortion under any circumstances.

• The U.S. followed as individual states began to

outlaw abortion. By 1880, most abortions were illegal
in the U.S., except those ``necessary to save the life
of the woman.'‗

• However, In the 1950s, about a million illegal abortions

a year were performed in the U.S. Poor women and
women of colour ran the greatest risks with illegal
abortions.
• Techniques used in those days were non-surgical; the
most common methods used were either dosing the
pregnant woman with a near- fatal amount of poison
so that a miscarriage could occur, or letting poison
directly into the uterus with one of a variety of ―
long needles, hooks, and knives.‖

• Attitudes toward abortion became more liberal in the

20th cent. By the 1970s, abortion had been legalized
in most European countries and Japan; as well as in
the United States, under a 1973 Supreme Court ruling
which took precedence over state laws that banned
abortion. However, there were restrictions in the
legislation for later stage abortions.
 Definition of Terms
 Approved Institution- any institution proved by the
Minister for the purposes of this act, such as that of
a clinic, hospital, maternity home, etc.

 Authorized Medical Practitioner- any person registered as

duly qualified practitioner
under the Medical Practitioner Act.

 Fetus- An unborn human baby which also includes an

embryo.

 Person of Unsound Mind- a person who is suffering

from
mental derangement.
 Pregnancy- an intra-uterine human pregnancy where the
fetus is viable.

 Termination of Pregnancy- termination of human

pregnancy with an intention other than to produce a live
birth.

 Pro-Life -This is defined as the responsibility or

obligation of the government to preserve all human life
regardless of intent, viability or quality of life concerns.

 Pro-Choice -This is the belief that women have the right

to choose to abort the baby. (A pro-choice view is that a
baby does not have the human rights).
 Counselling
 The Act states with regards to
counselling, that any female
seeking treatment for the
termination of her pregnancy must
undergo both pre and post abortion
counselling.

 The pregnant woman is also

expected to wait for a 48 hour time
period after she has made a
request for medical termination of
pregnancy to facilitate these
requirements or regulations.
 Laws Regarding A Woman’s
Termination of Pregnancy
The Act distinctly states four different time periods; all of
which carries separate regulations that must be abided or
adhered to before termination of the pregnancy can
lawfully take place. These time periods include:

 Termination of pregnancy of NOT more than eight (8)

weeks
 Termination of pregnancy of MORE than eight weeks
(8) but NOT more than twelve (12) weeks
 Termination of pregnancy of MORE than twelve
weeks
(12) but NOT more than sixteen (16) weeks
 Termination of pregnancy of MORE than sixteen (16)
weeks
 Termination of pregnancy of NOT
more than eight (8) weeks
 The treatment for the termination of a pregnancy of
not more than eight weeks by the use of any other
―lawful‖ method outside that of surgical procedures
must at all times be administered or supervised by a
medical practitioner.

 However, it is not necessary

for this termination process
to be carried out in an
approved institution such as
hospitals or clinics.
 Termination of pregnancy of MORE than
eight weeks (8) but NOT more than twelve (12)
weeks
 This must also be administered by a medical practitioner or an
assistant under the supervision of an authorised medical practitioner.
In this case, however it is mandatory that this termination process
takes place within an approved institution.

Additionally, the treatment regarding the termination of a

pregnancy can only be administered if:
 It is an institution approved for that particular purpose
 The medical practitioner administering the treatment believes
that
-the continuance of
pregnancy would involve
risk to the pregnant woman
or may be
of grave injury to her
 - there is substantial risk that if the child were born, it would
suffer from physical or mental abnormalities and can be
seriously handicapped
- on account of being a person of ―unsound mind‖, the
pregnant woman will not be capable of taking care of
the infant

 Where the pregnant woman reasonably believes that her

pregnancy was caused by an act of rape or incest and submits
a paper to that effect.

 Where the pregnant woman is known to be HIV positive.

 Where there is clear evidence that the pregnancy resulted in

spite of the use of a recognized contraceptive method by
the pregnant woman or her partner.
 Termination of pregnancy of MORE than
twelve weeks (12) but NOT more than sixteen
(16) weeks
 This treatment must also be administered by a medical
practitioner and the termination process must take place
within an approved institution.
 Treatment can only be administered if TWO medical
practitioners are of the opinion of matters
previously
listed or specified in the time period ―more than 8 weeks
but not less than 12 weeks‖.
 Termination of pregnancy of MORE
than sixteen (16) weeks

 The treatment of termination of pregnancy of more

than sixteen weeks must be administered by only an
authorised medical practitioner in an approved
institution.
 Treatment can only be administered if THREE medical
practitioners are of the opinion of matters also
previously listed or specified in the time period ―more
than 8 weeks but not less than 12 weeks‖.
 Non-liability of a Medical
Practitioner
 No medical practitioner including persons authorised by a
medical practitioner is held liable or legally responsible for
the treatment and supervision of the termination of a
pregnancy once consent has been given. unless of course
the actual procedure was conducted in a negligent manner.

Non-Application of Particular Provisions

 Counseling, consent and the number of medical opinions
may not be required where the termination of the
pregnancy is immediately necessary to save the life of the
woman or to prevent permanent injury to her physical or
mental health. Under such circumstances any authorised
medical practitioner can administer the treatment.
 No person should be held under legal duty to
participate in any part of a termination of pregnancy
when he is said to hold a conscientious objection.

 Conscientious objection to participate in the

treatment may be discharged by a statement on oath
or affirmation to the effect.

 Nothing should affect the duty of a person to

participate in the treatment for termination of a
pregnancy where the immediate treatment is
necessary to save the life of the patient or
prevent grave permanent injury.
 Penalties
 Inadequate Record Keeping
Should any individual or approved institution deliberately
refuse, incompletely maintain, document misleading information
of the patient or completely fails to maintain medical records
concerning termination, that person or the owner or manager of
that institution will be held responsible or liable and can be
fined
$20,000 along with 6 months of imprisonment.

 False Grounds for Abortion

Any statement made by a pregnant woman is deemed to be
intentionally false or misleading, this patient shall be held
liable for this offence and can be fined $7000 fine in addition
to 6 months of imprisonment.
 Breach of Confidentiality
Should any medical practitioner, approved institution or
person employed or working in this institution with lawful
access to records and shares this information with any
member of the general public or other parties, thereby
breaching confidentiality, he or she can be fined $100,000
as well as 1 year of imprisonment.

 Failure to Comply With Any Provision of this Act

Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any
provision of the this Act, for which no penalties has been
stated by the Act or Criminal Law (Offences) Act, shall be
held liable and can be fined $10, 000 along with 3 months
of imprisonment.
 Graph showing the various age groups interviewed
25

20
No. of persons

15

No. of Persons
10

0
<18 18-25 25-35 35-45 >45

Age
As visible in the graph above, a majority of the persons were
between the ages 18- 25 while a minority of persons were below
18 years old. The second most interviewed group was between
the ages 35- 45.
 Graph showing how the different genders view abortion
30

25

20

15

10

Pro-life Pro-choice

M F

The Graph above shows that 8 males and 17 females view

an abortion as pro-life while 10 males and 15 females view
an abortion as pro- choice. It can be seen that there is an
equal distribution between the choice of pro-life and pro-
choice.
 Chart showing religion influence the views of abortion.

2%

42%

56%
yes
no
un
sur
e

From the above graph it can be seen that 56% of the

people say that religion influence their views on abortion.
The other 42% claimed that religion has no influence on
their views while another 2% were unsure.
 Pie chart showing what are persons' views of an abortion

26%

Killing a Fetus
Killing a clump of tissues
Killing a baby
10%
64%

The above figure shows a pie chart which displays persons‘ views of
an abortion. 64%, which is the majority of persons, view an abortion
as killing a fetus, followed by 26% who view an abortion as killing
a clump of tissues. A very small percentage (10%) view an abortion
a killing a baby.
 Graph showing the various considerations that should be made if
Abortion was illegal in Guyana.
others
2%

foetus examined to be teenage pregnancy

abnormal. 21%
20%

women who are dependent on

drugs/alcohol
16%

pregnancy as the result of

sexual assault/rape
34%
single women
7%

As displayed on the graph, Majority of the respondents (34%) considered

that Pregnancy as a result of sexual assault/rape should be kept for
consideration if abortion was illegal, then followed by Teenage
pregnancy (21%). However, a small quantity of the respondents agreed that
single women are to be considered in relation to abortion.
 CHART SHOWING RESPONSES TO
IF ABORTION IS A WOMAN'S
ISSUE
11
total females that respond
21

total males that respond 12

6
23
total persons that respond
27

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
brown= yes pink= no
Out of 50 participants, 27 viewed abortion is a woman‘s issue while
23 persons disagreed.
For males, 6 persons said yes and 12 persons said it is not a
woman‘s
issue.
 CHART SHOWING IF THE FETUS SHOULD BE
GIVEN HUMAN RIGHTS
PINK- YES GREEN- NO

34

25

16

9 9
7

total persons that respond total males that respond total females that respond
 Pie chart showing persons' opinion as whether abortion should be a
free/fee procedure

26%

FEE
FREE

74%

As visible in the pie chart 74% of the population

interviewed believes that a fee should be paid for an
abortion while 26% believes that an abortion must be
free of cost.
 Graph showing who is responsible for the woman death during and after an abortion.
25

22

20 19

15
Respondents.

10

5
5

1
0
0
patient doctor relative counsellor
all
Responce

As showed in the graph above majority of the respondents claim

that
the Patients (19) as well as the Doctor (22) are responsible for the
death, if the woman dies during or after an abortion. 5 of
respondents also agreed that all of the persons involved during
 Countries Worldwide & Abortion
Laws Liberalization
• Between 1950 and 1985, nearly all industrialized
countries-and several others-liberalized their abortion
laws. Since 1994, more than 25 countries worldwide
have liberalized their abortion laws-while only a
handful have tightened legal restrictions on abortion.

• Liberal abortion laws do not increase abortion

rates
The World Health Organization has recognized that
"women all over the world are highly likely to
have an induced abortion when faced with an
unplanned pregnancy - irrespective of legal
conditions."
• Countries in the Global North and north Asia
generally have the most liberal abortion laws
• These countries generally permit abortion either
without restriction as to reason or on broad
grounds, such as for socioeconomic reasons.
However, some countries in these regions, including
Poland, Malta, and the Republic of Korea, maintain
restrictive abortion laws that run counter to the
regional trend.

• In contrast, countries in the Global South have

generally adopted restrictive abortion laws
• Most countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle
East, and southern Asia have severe abortion laws.
Furthermore, three of the four countries generally
considered to prohibit abortion altogether-Chile, El
Salvador, and Nicaragua-are located in Latin
America.
 WORLDWIDE INCIDENCE AND
TRENDS
• Between 1995 and 2003, the abortion rate (per 1,000
Women aged 15–44) for the world overall dropped from 35
to 29, but remained virtually unchanged, at 28, in 2008.

• Since 2003, the number of abortions fell by 600,000 in the

developed world but increased by 2.8 million in the
developing world.

• In 2008, six million abortions were performed in developed

countries and 38 million in developing countries.

• Globally there is no consensus on the issue of abortion,

but in order to prevent the misuse of induced abortions,
most countries have created independent abortion laws.
 WORLD MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION-
ThisDeclaration
international organization postulates that:
on Therapeutic Abortion
-The physician is morally obligated to ―maintain respect
for human life from beginning to end.‖
-Further, the decision to terminate a pregnancy is a ―matter of
individual conviction and conscience that must be respected.‖
-―Where the law allows therapeutic abortion to be
performed, the procedure should be performed by a
physician competent to do so in premises approved by an
appropriate authority.‖
-If the physician's convictions do not allow for this, they
may withdraw while ensuring the continuity of medical care
 RUSSIA
• Russia was the first country in the world to legalize
abortion, in 1920. The procedure was briefly
driven underground, but was lifted in 1953.
• A decade later, the practice had become so common that the
USSR registered 5.5 million abortions, compared to 2
million live births.
• 2006 showed 1.6 million abortions compared to 1.5
million live births -- a dismal figure, especially in a
country struggling with a looming demographic crisis.
• The most recent law cap abortions at 12 weeks, imposes a
waiting period of up to one week from initial
consultations and requires women over six weeks
pregnant to see the embryo on ultrasound, hear its
heartbeat and have counseling to determine how to
proceed.
• Its abortion rate - 1.3 million, or 73 per 100 births in 2009
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• In consultation with their physician, women have
a constitutionally protected right to have an
abortion in the early stages of pregnancy—that
is, before viability upon request—free from
government interference.

• Abortion has been legal in the USA since

1973, but may be restricted by any of the 56 states
to varying degrees.

• Approximately 3700 abortions are conducted

daily in the United States.
 INDIA
Enacted in 1971, India‘s abortion laws stipulated the
following conditions to execute an act of abortion:
1. A pregnancy may be terminated by a registered medical
practitioner where pregnancy does not exceed 12 consultation of
two registered practitioners required weeks(between 12-20 weeks)
under the belief that-
(i)the continuance of pregnancy would involve risk to the life of
the pregnant woman or grave injury to her physical or mental
health ; or
(ii)substantial risk exists that if the child were born, it would
suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be
seriously handicapped
2. A pregnancy occurring as a result of rape
3. Failure of contraceptive device used by a couple
 ISRAEL
A 1977 law ensures a legal abortion to any woman who fills
one of four criteria:
• She is under 18 or over 40
• She is carrying a fetus with a serious mental or physical
defect
• She claims that the fetus results from forbidden relations such
as rape or incest or, in the case of a married woman, that the
baby is not her husband‘s
• She shows that by continuing the pregnancy, her physical or
mental health would be damaged

Of the 19,544 cases of abortion granted of the 20,900

submitted that took place in Israel in 2007, data showed that
55% of abortions were a result of incest, illegal relations or
out-of wedlock conception.
 CHINA
• China began trying to control its massive population
growth in 1970 and introduced a one-child-per-family
policy in 1980. As such has made abortion legal in
order to maintain population control. Approximately
13 Million abortions are carried out each year in
China.

“ Illegal Births and Legal Abortion”

•Illegal Birth-The birth of a
Child outside the approval
of the government.
•Legal Abortion- The abortion
of a child to comply with the
one-child policy.
VENEZUELA
In Venezuela abortion is only permitted to save the life of the
woman in which case the woman, her husband or her legal
representative must present her written consent. The law
establishes up to 2 years prison for the woman who aborts while
whoever practices the abortion faces up to 30 months prison.

CUBA
Cuba was the first country to sign and the second to ratify the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW). Abortion is legal in the country since
1965. The maximum period of time to file for legal abortion is
10 weeks of pregnancy, from then onwards abortion is only legal
if the health of the woman is at risk. Abortions practiced outside
the public health system are penalized.
 RELIGION & ABORTION
CHRISTIANITY
Christians believe that life begins at the instant
of conception. Therefore, abortion is murder and
is prohibited by the Ten Commandments.
(Exodus 20:13)

The Church today firmly holds that "the first

right of the human person is his life" and that life
is assumed to begin at fertilization. The equality
of all human life is fundamental and complete,
any discrimination is evil.
ISLAM
A notable verse from the Qur‘an reads: ―Do not kill your
children for fear of poverty: we shall provide
sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing
of them is a great sin‖ (17:31).

For a woman carrying an illegitimate child from extra

marital sex or rape, the consensus is that she should give
birth, however, if the scar of rape is too heavy, then the
decision is hers.

However, All schools of Muslim law accept that abortion

is permitted only if continuing the pregnancy would put
the mother's life in real danger.
HINDUISM
Classical Hindu texts strongly opposed
abortion: one compares abortion to the killing
of a priest, one considers abortion a greater sin
than killing of one‘s parents and another says
that a woman who aborts her child will lose her
caste.

Unless a mother's health is at risk,

traditional Hindu teachings and texts
condemn abortion because it is thought to
violate the religion's teachings of non-
 Many people are very, very concerned with
the children in India, with the children in
Africa where quite a number die, maybe of
malnutrition, of hunger and so on, but
millions are dying deliberately by the will of
the mother.
And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace
today. Because if a mother can kill her own
child - what is left for me to kill you and you kill
me -- there is nothing between- MOTHER
TERESA