Three Detained In Abortion-Clinic Raid

[Morakot]

I didn't realise abortion clinics were illegal?

I thought it was acceptable to have an abortion in Thailand?!

Article 305 of Thai Penal Code states that abortion is illegal except in cases when it is committed by a medical practitioner and is considered only as necessary if the same endangers the health of the mother or when the pregnancy is due to sexual offences such as rape and incest.

[oldthaihand99]

The average hospital will not do it at all unless the mother is dieing.

According to the following site:

"... a long-running Public Health Ministry survey of pregnant women attending public hospitals revealed that more than one quarter had abortions while in hospital."

http://whatismatt.co...al-in-thailand/

See also:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/143682-abortion-in-thailand/

Edited November 27, 2012 by oldthaihand99

[oldthaihand99]

I didn't realise abortion clinics were illegal?

I thought it was acceptable to have an abortion in Thailand?!

Article 305 of Thai Penal Code states that abortion is illegal except in cases when it is committed by a medical practitioner and is considered only as necessary if the same endangers the health of the mother or when the pregnancy is due to sexual offences such as rape and incest.

According to the Thai law (in effect since 1956), abortions are illegal in Thailand, except for the girls under

the age of 15 or with a serious illness, and when the pregnancy threatens the woman’s health or results from rape

or incest. Yet de facto, the abortion law is rarely enforced, and illegal abortions remain common and an important

public health issue for women in Thailand. There is evidence of wide public support led by women's groups, medical

and legal professionals for the reform of abortion laws to widen the circumstances under which an abortion is legal.

...As the matter of fact, legal abortions are very seldom in Thailand. Even though, the abortion law is widely broken.

Virginity is highly valued and there is a heavy social stigma against unmarried mothers, so that fear and shame drive

many single pregnant women to illegal abortions. They are unable to face the social consequences of their situation

and thus sacrifice their Buddhist principles against taking life. Contrary to the traditional Buddhist understanding,

some rationalize that a very small fetus is not yet conscious and thus an abortion does not involve killing.

...It has been mentioned by many experts that some 400,000 women in Thailand annually undergo illicit abortions,

although it's impossible to get accurate statistics. Dr Suriyadeo Tripathi, director of National Institute for Child

and Family Development, said that about 300,000 women and girls sought illegal abortions every year.

...Some medical professionals more or less discretely advertise for abortion business, but many abortionists are untrained, which commonly leads to the dreadful consequences.

So, abortion in Thailand is de jure legal only when it is considered necessary to protect a woman's health or in case of rape. Under the recently revised (but yet published) abortion regulations issued by the Medical Council of Thailand, the term "health" includes mental, emotional and physiological considerations as well as physical conditions. The determination that a woman qualifies for a legal abortion under that criteria can only be made by a medical doctor licensed in Thailand.

This determination (and, if positive, the abortion procedure) can be done at any hospital, private or government. Though, private hospitals with religious affiliations may chose not provide that service. In early pregnancy, it can also be done at one of the many low cost clinics operated by the Thai NGO Population & Community Development Association (PDA). For cost estimates, contact the hospital or clinic of your choice. Just remember that they will not tell you if they will be able to perform the procedure until the woman has met with a doctor.

http://www.th4u.com/abortions.htm

Edited November 28, 2012 by oldthaihand99