Spain abortion plan makes method details mandatory
Spain plans to make information about surgical and medication abortion methods compulsory for women seeking to end a pregnancy. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry will brief the country’s autonomous regions about the draft rules by email through an extraordinary meeting of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System. The regions can send comments back by email.
What women would be told
Under the proposal, women would receive information about the procedure, its risks and consequences, accredited public and private clinics, the steps involved and their rights during care. The draft names surgical and medication methods specifically; the previous wording referred only to different methods of abortion.
For an abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy on medical grounds, women would also be told about the possible procedures so they can choose an option suited to their case. Information about contraception, counselling before and after an abortion, public support for pregnant women and employment rights would be provided only if a woman asks for it.
The Equality Ministry says the aim is to give women clear, accurate information regardless of where they live.
Changes to medical committees
The draft also covers the clinical committees involved in abortions on medical grounds. It calls for a balance of women and men among both full and substitute members, unless there are sound, objective reasons for an exception.
Anyone on the register of conscientious objectors, or who has been on it in the past three years, would be barred from serving. Committees would have to give their decisions in writing, setting out the diagnosis, evidence examined, clinical assessment and reasons.
The Council of Ministers approved urgent processing of the draft last Tuesday. Wednesday’s email briefing gives the regions a chance to comment on it.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com