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Wednesday, March 27, 1974
LEGAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS
Trial Period To Be Extended For Two Years
The Hon. Garth Thornton, Acting Attorney General, today proposed
in the Legislative Council that the trial period of that portion of the
Offences Against the Person Ordinance relating to the legal termination
of pregnancy for therapeutic reasons, ending at the end of this month, be
extended for a further two years from that date.
He explained that the Hon. Director of Medical and Health Services
had supported a longer trial period for further analysis of information
on such matters as age, social-economic status, the family size of the women
concerned, the duration of pregnancy prior to termination, the medical
conditions leading to the doctors' decision to operate, and the numbers of
women subsequently opting for sterilisation.
If the proposed two-year extension of the legislation wore accepted,
the issue would be reviewed early in 1976 "in the light of fuller information
extending over a more meaningful period."
This was a reference to the regulations passed by the Legislative
Council for a trial period two years ago authorising termination of pregnancy
for therapeutic reasons, subject to the Director of Medical and Health
Services keeping "a close watch on its operation."
Mr. Thornton said that to enable the Director of Medical and Health
Services to undertake such a watch, legislation was enacted requiring medical
practitioners to provide him with certified information regarding all cases
in which pregnancies had been terminated for therapeutic reasons.
The Acting