Oppose attempts to undermine & restrict SA's abortion laws

Just 3 years ago South Australia finally passed laws to recognise abortion care as healthcare. Now, we’re facing an attempt to undermine and restrict these laws that recognise abortion care as a personal medical decision.

We should be able to make healthcare decisions together with our doctors. This is particularly important in the complex and distressing circumstances in which a woman might need to access abortion care later in pregnancy.

But right now Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Regional Roads and Government Accountability Ben Hood is trying to change SA’s health laws to override treatment options for ...

Just 3 years ago South Australia finally passed laws to recognise abortion care as healthcare. Now, we’re facing an attempt to undermine and restrict these laws that recognise abortion care as a personal medical decision.

We should be able to make healthcare decisions together with our doctors. This is particularly important in the complex and distressing circumstances in which a woman might need to access abortion care later in pregnancy.

But right now Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Regional Roads and Government Accountability Ben Hood is trying to change SA’s health laws to override treatment options for doctors and patients.

Specifically, he’s trying to make it illegal for a doctor to intervene to end a pregnancy after 28 weeks unless “the intention is to deliver the foetus alive”. It’s a proposal that has been opposed by leading healthcare providers; and which would have dangerous and distressing consequences. It would appear to ban compassionate care options in cases of a devastating diagnosis, like a fatal foetal abnormality. It also has the potential to mean a woman who needs abortion care at this stage would be subjected to unnecessary procedures like a cesarean section. This policy essentially amounts to forced birth.

SA's current abortion laws were developed after an extended process of consultation by legal and medical experts through the South Australian Law Reform Institute. This proposed change would see our politicians limiting care decisions that we should be able to make with our doctors.

This proposal is scheduled for debate and potential vote in the Upper House on the 16th October. Can you let your representatives in the SA parliament know you want them to protect current abortion laws?

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Email your representatives

Email your representatives in the SA parliament to let them know you want them to protect current abortion laws, to allow these important and deeply personal medical decisions to be made by a patient and their doctor.

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Subject:

I am writing to support current abortion laws; and to express my opposition to the proposed amendment to the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021

I believe that healthcare decisions are best made with your doctor; and I’m deeply concerned that this proposal would limit the compassionate care options available to patients and doctors in the rare and deeply distressing circumstances that lead to needing abortion care later in pregnancy.

I’m concerned that this law would have dangerous and distressing consequences – seemingly banning compassionate care options in cases of a devastating diagnosis like a fatal foetal abnormality; and with the potential to subject women who need abortion care at this point to unnecessary procedures like a cesarean section.

I’m aware that the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has indicated they oppose this reform; and that the current laws were developed after extensive consultation with medical and legal experts, including on this question.

I urge you to vote against this proposal.

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