Malta’s pro-choice doctors have launched a new service to help those seeking medical advice before, during or after an abortion with pills.

“It is important that women who use abortion pills at home have access to information and medical care if needed. This is according to guidance by the World Health Organisation,” Doctors For Choice Malta wrote in a launch statement.

The Abortion Doula Support Service is a telephone information service to provide anonymous professional guidance in one of the last countries on the planet where terminating pregnancies is illegal in all circumstances.

“Regardless of the legal status of abortion, we know at least one woman in Malta each day carries out her own abortion at home with pills,” the doctors wrote.

While opting for shipped pills is less costly and potentially less time-consuming than travelling abroad for an abortion, people in Malta must do so without any assistance or advice from doctors, due to potential criminal consequences.

This means that should any complications arise, doctors cannot legally help them, although this could well change if a bill currently being debated in Parliament passes into law.

Still, the brave doctors administering the line were revealed as Prof Isabel Stabile and Dr Natalie Psaila.

What is a doula?

According to their page, doula originates from Ancient Greek and it means “a woman who serves.”

In the present context, an abortion doula is someone trained to provide information, help, and support to people going through the process of abortion.

You can reach them by calling +356 20341683. If they are unable to answer, please leave a voice message with your number and they will call you back.