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Moscow: Difference between revisions
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→Abortion
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Russia, abortion is fully legal for women over 16 years old. If women are under 16 years old, they must receive parental permission.<ref>[https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/russia/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/termination-abortionTermination of Pregnancy and Abortion in Russia]</ref> In the first twelve weeks of gestation, all reasons for abortions are accepted, including to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, risk of fetal impairment, economic or social reasons or upon general request. To obtain an abortion, the patient must first give "informed consent," meaning she must formally consent to the abortion at least 48 before the procedure. The abortion must be performed by a licensed physician in a hospital or another recognized institution. Note that a doctor is allowed to refuse giving abortion services, unless it's medically necessary to save the life of a woman. If you get an abortion at a public hospital, you need a referral from a doctor. If you get it at a private hospital, you don't need a referral. | |||
After 12 weeks of gestation, abortion is sometimes permitted. You can receive an abortion within 28 weeks from conception, but this only under special circumstances, such as risk to a woman's life if the pregnancy continues, and the patient must receive special authorization from a committee of local physicians. | |||
Historically, Russia was the first European country to grant abortions upon request in 1920 (then under the Soviet Union). At that time, abortions were free of charge and so in demand that hospitals became congested with abortion patients. As a result, special clinics for abortion procedures opened up. From 1936-1955, abortion was made illegal in the Soviet Union. Following Stalin's death in 1955, it was once again made legal, and it was estimated in the 1950s and 1960s that the Soviet Union had some of the highest abortion rates in the world. After the fall of the Soviet Union, abortion remained very common in the country. This was also due to the closure of condom and IUD factories, making contraceptive options less available for many women. However, with the legalization of sterilization in 1993, abortion rates did begin to go down. In Russia today, abortion still remains incredibly common, and many women still appear to not regularly take contraceptives and have multiple abortions performed on them. While China has the most abortions in the world, Russia was found to have the most abortions per capita. In the last few years, there have been some legal and political challenges to the abortion law, such as the 2015 proposed fine if women obtained abortions outside state clinics and mandatory ultrasounds. | |||
However, public opinion remains generally pro-choice. As reported by AngloInfo, "In general, public opinion is that the woman has the right to choose between abortion and giving birth. Recently though, some thinking is that fathers should also have some right to take part in the decision making process. Most people support abortions being kept legal and the procedure should not be made complicated. However, there are some who believe it should be taken out of insurance packages for free medical care and should be a paid procedure."<ref>[https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/russia/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/termination-abortionTermination of Pregnancy and Abortion in Russia]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
If you go to a state hospital, you'll need to be referred to a hospital. The abortion will generally be free (but you'll have to pay for anesthetic). You're more likely to get the dilation and curettage (75 percent in 2011) procedure. This procedure is not recommended by the World Health Organization and there are greater risks, particularly to fertility. The procedure requires anesthetic. You can also choose to vacuum aspiration or medical abortion (i.e. "the abortion pill") but these procedures are not free. | |||
If you go to a private hospital, you won't need a referral. There's a generally higher-level of care than at public facilities, and the abortion procedures comply with WHO guidelines. However, private hospitals are also more expensive. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||