Relax abortion laws: Docs

5 December 2012 11:53 pm - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

It was necessary to relax laws on abortion who became pregnant due to rape, incest or foetal abnormalities to ease the pain and hardship faced by them, Medical experts said yesterday.

They said that it was assumed that some 700 illegal abortions took place each day but said there was no official data since many abortions were performed in secret.

Addressing a workshop on abortion and family planning, medical experts said that those who became pregnant due to rape or incest accounted for about one percent of the total number of unintended pregnancies taking place in the country but that the women suffered and faced a great deal of hardship.
They said that in such instances women should be allowed to decide if the pregnancy should continue or if it should be terminated during a legally stipulated period of time.

Section 303 of the Penal Code stipulates that an abortion may only be performed if a woman’s life is in danger. However the law had not been amended since 1883.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr. Lakshman Senanayake said that 89% of unwanted pregnancies that occurred due to the non-use of contraceptives led to unsafe abortions and 140,000 deaths each year.

“A country’s laws make all the difference in the number of safe and unsafe abortions that take place. Some have abortions in extremely unsafe, unsanitary conditions. There are some who perform abortions on their own. If we had laws to support these women they would receive the support they need,” Dr. Senanayake said.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr. Mangala Dissanayake said that it was necessary to seek an immediate solution for women who faced such difficulties.

“This is a grave problem. We see women who face tremendous difficulties and there is a need for a solution,” he said.

Family Health Bureau Deputy Director Dr. Chithramalee De Silva said that there were 370,000 births each year in Sri Lanka and that the women in the reproductive age group of 15 to 49 years was 5.4 million and accounted for 27% of the country’s population.

“Females in the reproductive age group are gradually increasing and there is a need to introduce family planning methods for everyone to control or prevent unintended pregnancies,” she said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 12

Muhammad Thursday, 06 December 2012 12:00 AM

No harm to give permission on m

azath Thursday, 06 December 2012 01:26 AM

Take measures to prevent unplanned pregnancies, Do not kill the unborn child.

Shan Thursday, 06 December 2012 04:02 AM

Those without morals will agree for abortions, but promote morality in the country eradicating the root causes.

Himal Thursday, 06 December 2012 04:25 AM

Money talks. Leagalise abortion and you will suddenly find a lot of abortions happening due to foetal abnormalities. The docs will be able to do in public what they do now in secret.

ANTON Thursday, 06 December 2012 05:19 AM

Doctors are trying to make more money, take care of bogus physicians(GODA WEDAS) whose treatments are very dangerous.

manpei Thursday, 06 December 2012 05:24 AM

Azath no woman plans to get raped.

Ryan Thursday, 06 December 2012 05:29 AM

This will be the death of our culture(buddhist, catholic, hindu, muslim)

Professor Thursday, 06 December 2012 05:58 AM

Family Health Bureau has a major duty to perform in educating the ones in the reproductive age on family planning methods. According to statistics majority of abortions are done by married females who already have children. Therefore every religion and in schools people should be educated on responsible sex to avoid unwanted pregnancies. We are human beings and we cannot decide the destiny of another human being. It is now found out by the time a woman realises that she is pregnant and makes arrangements to abort the fetus the heart of the unborn is already formed and is beating.

Mahi Thursday, 06 December 2012 06:01 AM

You are completely confused. Doctors are trying to prevent deaths of women whe are going to your GODA VEDAS. Is that bad?

das Thursday, 06 December 2012 06:28 AM

How can you prevent foetal abnormalities?

Raju Thursday, 06 December 2012 01:22 PM

This should be allowed under best practice and proper medical supervision. Most of the develop world allow abortion within first 3 months of pregnancy.

Sandy Friday, 07 December 2012 08:44 AM

'Most of the developed world allow abortion"

Is killing an innocent baby 'development'?

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Relax abortion laws: Docs

Comments - 12

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

No decision to declare April 15 as public holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Sri Lanka defaults on USD 6 billion payment despite rising reserves: Patali

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

April 15 declared a government holiday

Suspicious death of 23-year-old woman at hotel sparks concerns

MIRROR CRICKET

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

Sri Lanka captain quashes retirement speculation; sets sight on T20 World Cup Qualifiers

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Xi calls for fair, transparent environment for investment in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Air Force organizes Colombo Air Show and Defence Exhibition (CADE 2024)

9 year-old child fatally hit by train at Railway Crossing

SLPP MPs barred from going public on their support for presidential candidates

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win