Very sensitive question - pregnancy termination in Phuket

[UpAndAway]

Hello. I'm a regular reader/contributor to the Phuket forum, but I've chosen to use a new user name for this thread for obvious reasons.

I know I'm likely to get heavily flamed as a result of this highly divisive post, but here goes...

My wife and I (Europeans living in Phuket) are in the very unfortunate situation that my wife has had an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy (only 3 weeks), and due to her currently having quite severe anxiety issues and taking medication as a result, we are seeking to terminate her pregnancy. She is simply not mentally ready. Never mind the meds.

We've weighed up a list of pros and cons, and the cons outweigh the other by a factor of 10 to 1.

So off we went to the Bangkok Phuket hospital today and, as we expected, they were less than impressed, which of course we expected - Thailand being a Buddhist country.

They will only provide an abortion in the case of rape or incest.

Does anyone know of any other clinics in Phuket? Does anyone have experience in this regard?

Otherwise it will be back off to Euroland for a few days - not ideal.

[Jimi007]

From what I have read it is and from talking with my rather knowledgable Thai wife, it illegal here in Thailand except for extreme cases. I think a holiday would be your best plan.

[bubblegum]

Agree, take a trip. It can be done at places but illigal and not done by higly trained people, 2 much risk something will go wrong

[LivinginKata]

Abortion is illegal in Thailand except in extreme circumstances. This topic is asking information about an illegal activity in Thailand and it must be closed as per forum rules.

To the OP - read forum rule 24) Multiple accounts by the same person are not allowed. If you have access issues contact support at [/size]http://www.thaivisa.com/contact

//CLOSED//

[Sheryl]

Clarification:

Abortion is NOT "illegal" in Thailand. It is legal provided 2 doctors concur that any of these conditions apply:

- risk to the mother's physical health

- risk to the mother's mental health

-likelihood of fetal deformity (having taking medications that are potentially tetrogenic would apply)

-pregnancy resulted from rape or incest

However, many hospitals have not established the necessary administrative procedures and some doctors are unwilling to perform them.

If when you went to the hospital you talked with nurses/admin staff, they will always say no even in hospitals which do in fact approve and perform abortions on mental health grounds. You have to talk directly to an ob-gyn and the problem of course is that you have no way of knowing in advance which of them is open to perfroming an abortion on mental health grounds, which can mean making a round of doctors that can be rather upsetting.

There is a non-profit organization which has clinics where this is best handled. Please see this thread for details: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/143682-abortion-in-thailand/

Another alternative, which would allow the option of medical abortion (not currently possible in Thailand) is to go to Cambiodia where abortion is legal on demand in the first 3 months. Marie Stopes Int, a UK-based NGO, runs a network of clinics there of good standard and they offer both medical and surgical abortion. http://www.mariestopes.org.kh/

If you decide on the second option, call their HQ in PP and ask to speak to either the Quality Assurrance Advisor (an expat) or Country Director (expat) so that they know in advance a foreigner will be coming and to which clinic, and they will ensure that an English speaker is present throughout.