Pro-Choice Activists Push Back After Robert Abela Hints Abortion Bill Will Be Watered Down
A group of pro-choice activists has warned that the abortion bill is only the “bare minimum” as Prime Minister Robert Abela hinted it could be tightened and watered down to allay critics’ concerns.
“We express our concern at the suggested changes to Bill 28 that will put pregnant women and persons in Malta at increased risk by making it more difficult for them to receive treatment,” the Voice for Choice coalition warned in a statement.
“We appeal to the government to show commitment towards women’s rights and pass Bill 28 as it currently stands,” it said.
“Bill 28 is a simple exception to the complete ban on abortion that allows terminations of pregnancy in cases of risk to life or grave risk to health, and anyone who does not abide by these stringent rules faces fines and prison time.”
“When Bill 28 was launched we described it as the ‘bare minimum’ to protect pregnant women and the changes being proposed will weaken it and will harm women.”
Parliamentary discussion on the controversial bill has stalled, with the health committee waiting for Health Minister Chris Fearne to present an updated version of the bill. Fearne has refused to give a timeline on when the updated bill will be presented except to say that he is in no “exaggerated rush” to do so.
Abela said yesterday that the updated bill will clarify that viable foetuses must be birthed and could also include a “structure” to prevent doctors from carrying out abortions when the mother’s life or health isn’t at risk.
However, Voice for Choice warned the suggested proposal surrounding the foetus’ viability could be dangerous to women.
“It is a normal clinical practice to deliver a foetus that is of a viable age when there is a grave risk to the health or life of the pregnant woman.”
“Prime Minister Abela suggested Bill 28 will include a legal requirement to birth a ‘viable’ foetus. However, ‘viability’ has two definitions in pregnancies. Firstly, viable can mean the ability for the foetus to survive outside the uterus with the appropriate support, usually considered to refer to foetuses that have developed beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy.”
“However, ‘viable’ is also used to describe any pregnancy that may lead to a live birth in the future.”
“We warn that if this latter interpretation is applied to the new law, it would mean that doctors will be forced to refuse treatment on the grounds that there could be the possibility that the pregnancy could still go to term.”
They used the example of a woman diagnosed with cancer who just found out she is pregnant, who could possibly not be granted chemotherapy because her pregnancy would still be considered viable.
“It seems the driving force behind this change is spin by conservative forces that the government intends to legalise later-term abortions. However, this is and will remain illegal.”
“This means the requirement in law is unnecessary, may lead to confusion, and increases risk to women.”
Voice for Choice is a coalition of NGOs in Malta consisting of Doctors for Choice Malta, Aditus, Malta Humanists Association, Moviment Graffitti, Women’s Rights Foundation, Men Against Violence, Parents for Choice, Students for Choice, Integra Foundation, and Young Progressive Beings.
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