XN000022-1976-03-05 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1976

LEGAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO MAKE A SECTION OF THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE LEGAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS A PERMANENT PART OF THE LAW.

A BILL TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE. ENTITLED THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, IT IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING WHETHER FURTHER CHANGES TO THE EXISTING LEGISLATION AND PROCEDURES ARE REQUIRED,

THE SECTION IN QUESTION WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1972 TO GIVE BETTER PROTECTION TO A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER WHO MAY BE CALLED UPON TO PERFORM A THERAPEUTIC ABORTION.

WHEN THE DRAFT BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SOME MISGIVINGS WERE EXPRESSED THAT THE BILL MIGHT LEAD TO RAMPANT ABUSE.

AS A RESULT. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE WORKING OF THE BILL WOULD BE REVIEWED AT THE END OF A TRIAL PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, THAT IS IN MARCH 1974.

AS THE NUMBER OF PREGNANCIES TERMINATED UNDER THIS PROVISION DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD PROVED TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR MAKING ADEQUATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OR FOR DRAWING FIRM CONCLUSIONS, THE TRIAL PERIOD WAS EXTENDED FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, UP TO THE END OF THIS MONTH.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT BETWEEN THE ENACTMENT OF THE NECESSARY REGULATIONS IN JANUARY 1973 AND DECEMBER 31, 1975, A TOTAL OF 1,771 CASES OF PREGNANCY HAD BEEN TERMINATED BY REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS.

OF THESE, 1,738 CASES OF PREGNANCY WERE TERMINATED ON THE GROUND THAT THE CONTINUANCE OF THE PREGNANCY WOULD HAVE INVOLVED GREATER RISK OF INJURY TO THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PREGNANT WOMEN THAN IF THE PREGNANCY WERE TERMINATED.

A FURTHER 30 CASES WERE TERMINATED ON THE GROUND THAT THE CONTINUANCE OF THE PREGNANCY WOULD HAVE INVOLVED GREATER RISK TO THE LIFE OF THE PREGNANT WOMEN THAN IF THE PREGNANCY WERE TERMINATED.

IN THE REMAINING THREE CASES, TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY WAS CARRIED OUT UNDER EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES.

HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +WHILE THE NUMBER OF CASES MAY BE CONSIDERED SMALL OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, IT WOULD APPEAR REASONABLE TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO ABUSE OF THE LEGISLATION.

THEREFORE, HE SAID, IT APPEARED THAT THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO INCORPORATE THE SECTION PERMANENTLY INTO THE ORDINANCE.