“This study made the claim that the survival rate to discharge within neonates born after prolonged rupture of membrane at gestational week less than 24 weeks is 79.2%,” Doctors for Choice said.

“However, a closer look at the data contained in the article shows that in the study population all cases of PPROM prior to 19 weeks of pregnancy resulted in a dead fetus or dead neonate. Andrea Prudente was 15 weeks pregnant when she suffered a PPROM.”

When this discourse made its way to social media, people were upset that the findings had been misquoted and questioned what the consequence of this would be.

Lawyer and pro-choice activist Emma Portelli Bonnici, who contested in the previous election campaign, emphasised that abortion should be considered as healthcare.

“Purposefully misinterpreting statistics to suit your narrative won’t alter reality. Abortion is healthcare,” she said.

Portelli Bonnici’s post also made its way to pro-lifer and Senior Pastor at River of Love, Gordon Manché who stood by the original misquoted findings testimony and took to the comment section of her post to share his two-cents on the matter.

“Malta has a new alternative truth, it seems – that there is an 80% chance of survival for foetuses of 15 weeks in cases of severe PPROM,” Andrea Dibben, activist and chairperson of the Women’s Rights Foundation said.

She said that if doctors are performing “medical miracles” by ensuring unborn babies survive after severe PPROM at an early stage in pregnancy, then they are doing a global disservice by not publishing their work in academic medical literature.

Tag someone who needs to see this