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Singapore: Difference between revisions
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→Laws & Social Stigmas
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Singapore, abortion is fully legal during the first 24 weeks of gestation. But it's only available for citizens of Singapore, wives of Singapore citizens and women that have resided in Singapore for a minimum duration of four months in public hospitals. In private hospitals, it appears that foreign women can receive abortions (though there may be some legal grey area around this).<ref>[http://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/4742/singapore Women on Waves: Singapore]</ref> | |||
For women who seek abortions, all reasons for abortion are permitted, including to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment, economic or social reasons and available on request. After 24 weeks of gestation, abortion is only permitted to save the life of the woman. The abortion must be performed in a government hospital or an institution approved by the government for abortions. Furthermore, different restrictions on physicians apply. If gestation is under 16 weeks, the physician must have at least 24 month's worth of experience in an ob/gyn unit. After 16 months of gestation, the physician is required to have more experience.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion in Singapore]</ref> | |||
The gestational limit of 24 weeks is calculated in the following way: "Gestational limits are calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, which is considered to occur two weeks prior to conception. Where laws specify that gestational age limits are calculated from the date of conception, these limits have been extended by two weeks."<ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws: Singapore]</ref> | |||
Note that, in Singapore, there appears to be required counseling and 24-hour wait period before the abortion was performed. These laws were implemented in 1987. According to the UN Report, "In 1987, these regulations were amended to introduce mandatory counselling prior to and following the performance of an abortion. In addition, they require a pregnant woman to wait twenty-four hours after receiving the counselling until the abortion is performed unless performance of the abortion is immediately necessary to save the life or prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Pre-abortion counselling is reportedly intended to provide women with information that may allow them to continue their pregnancy and post-abortion counselling to discourage them from seeking repeat abortions."<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion in Singapore]</ref> | |||
Historically, Singapore was not always so liberal regarding abortion law. According to the UN Report, "Until 1969, abortion legislation in Singapore was based on British laws adopted in the nineteenth century. The performance of an abortion was in general a criminal act punishable under sections 312-316 of the Penal Code. However, an abortion was permitted if performed in good faith to preserve the life of the pregnant woman."<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion in Singapore]</ref> The abortion laws began to change in the 1970s to offer more general access. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||