Is abortion legal in your home country?

@maximax8 (31053)
United Kingdom
December 6, 2008 12:35pm CST
Abortion is legal in my home country up until 24 weeks pregnancy. That is the same age that a baby that is born early can live if they get good medical care. I would never have an abortion but I respect other ladies decision if they have one. In countries where abortion is illegal sometimes back street abortions go on in dirty conditions. Is abortion legal in your home country and if so to how many weeks pregnancy? If abortion is illegal in your home country do you think it still happens?
3 people like this
22 responses
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
6 Dec 08
It is legal and the woman may decide on her own until 12 weeks. After that one may apply. I do not think one would be able to have an abortion no matter what as late as 24 weeks.
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
6 Dec 08
Disability is one of the reasons one may have an abortion after 12 weeks here as well. But not that late. I am for the right to choose, but I think it sounds very difficult the way it is in your country. I understand that sometimes it will be too hard to care for a disabled child, but I think it is really hard to come to terms with people being able to choose what child thay will and will not have based on fetures or characteristics in the child. It is not easy at all this.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 08
Hi Teison. I think 12 weeks is far more reasonable than 24 weeks. My home country has that limit because each pregnant lady has an ultrasound scan at 20 weeks. Then if the baby is disabled she can abort until term so that is horrible.
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 08
Hi again Teison. I was offered an abortion at 36 weeks pregnancy due to spina bifida. When my baby was born he went into special care and had two operations. He is a lovely little boy now. He is able to sit up unaided but he will never be able to walk. Health care professionals have talked many pregnant ladies into aborting because of a disability. I know a lady that said no. She suffered hearing the her baby would be a monster and it would destroy her marriage. I think lady should choose but often there is pressure.
1 person likes this
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
6 Dec 08
yes it is, but I don't agree with it unless it is an extreme case...
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 08
I think an extreme case might be the lady's life is in danger if she has the baby. I believe in adoption instead of abortion because then the baby can life and be wanted by a loving adoptive couple.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 08
Thanks for adding valuable comments. I feel sorry for a pregnant lady that has life in danger unless she has an abortion. In the 1960s adoption was popular and my mum's friend adopted a baby girl from a teenage girl and a baby boy from a business woman. They are now grown up and both have happy lives.
• United States
6 Dec 08
I agree...the only time abortion should be an option under normal circumstances is if carrying/delivering the baby will endanger the mother's life. Otherwise, there are too many people out there who are willing to provide that baby a loving home for it to be difficult to find someone who wants...
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
7 Dec 08
Abortion is illegal in my country... but like you said... back street abortions do happen... and the authorities are trying very hard to put a stop to this practice... because it is not only against the law... but the life of the mother and baby are at stake... I don't really think that abortion will ever be legal in my country... most of the people are Christians... and the general population believe that abortion is immoral... i for one will not support any law being passed to legalize this practice...
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 08
It is so sad when back street abortions happen my friend. If something goes wrong I wonder if a lady would seek help or the hospital treating her might tell the police. Yes, religion has much to do whether people believe in abortion or not. Good luck to the authorities that are trying to stop illegal abortion.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
7 Dec 08
It is legal and I belive that they just changed it from 20 to 24 weeks but I am not sure. Would I ever have one that is a hard one to say. I am pregnant right now and went for my 20 week scan last week and was told that baby was doing great, but I have often asked my self what would I do if they told me that the baby will be seriusly sick or disabled. And to be honest I dont know if I could do it. And I am in that position right now where I can be told to make that decision (god forbit) but I hope I never have to do it. I know that a lot of women do it for "medical" reasons where there are no medical reasons thats the closes to illegal thing I know of.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 08
Good luck in the rest of your pregnancy. The 20 week scan is an exciting time especially if you are allowed photos. Did you find out your baby's gender? At my 20 week scan everything looked normal. But at 36 weeks pregnancy I had some testing and spina bifida was found. I had my baby and he is now a happy little 18 month old. Sometimes time scales are changed so abortions can be done later or earlier in pregnancy.
• Australia
8 Dec 08
no we dont want to know until its born
@dong1970 (1572)
• Philippines
7 Dec 08
Nope,here in my country abo,rtion is not legal.Abortion is happening but they are doing it secretly.
@mods196621 (3652)
• Philippines
7 Dec 08
Abortion is really illegal to our country. It was a high matter that our official govt, and church talked about the legality of abortion. One of our official passed the bill of abortion being legal but the church did not agree about this matter. The church reason is, it was against the law of God. Because they believe that upon conception there was life inside the womb of a mother and it will never be aborted. But there are cases that we need to abort the baby if the situation is needed depend upon the condition of both mother and the baby.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 08
Often the government and the church do not agree on an issue like abortion. It is fascinating the the officials tried to make abortion legal but the church stopped that from happening. I believe the life begins on the day of conception and so by the time a lady gets a positive pregnancy test she is 4 weeks pregnant.
@mgmagana (3618)
• United States
6 Dec 08
i'm in the us, and yes it's legal. i do agree with a woman's right to choose. i do agree too, if it wasn't legal, woman would find other means which may be even more cruel and even harmful to the woman.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 08
I think in the USA medical care is very expensive so I imagine that getting an abortion is pricey. In my home country there are private clinics and it is possible to get an abortion free of charge from the National Health Service. Yes, I heard about a lady that was going to do something really awful because she hated being pregnant. Luckily she changed her mind and had a baby that she now loves.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
6 Dec 08
Abortion is illegal in Malta in all stages. I do agree with this law as I do believe that an unborn child has the right to live and that abortion is a homicide. Yes maltese women go to Sicily and UK to do abortions. Sometimes a few backdoor abortions happen too. © ronaldinu 2008
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 08
Thanks for your excellent response. I believe life begins at conception and if a lady aborts the later in pregnancy she does it the worse. I feel so sorry for the baby and think aborted babies are the missing people of the world. Sicily is a boat ride from Malta so I guess that it the most convenient place. I agree with the law in Malta regarding abortion.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Dec 08
I'm not sure if it's legal here, but I think not. However, like so many things that are against the law, will still be available.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 08
Hi my friend Mipen. I should imagine that abortion isn't allowed in the country that you live in. If so it probably does occur illegally. So the law is not strictly enforced, yet it is two countries south from you.
• Philippines
8 Dec 08
It's illegal here in the Philippines and most hospitals don't allow it.If they know that you are going to have an abortion,they'll immediately call the police.Many people and agencies are pro-life including me but one sad fact that I hear in the news sometimes is that a fetus is found somewhere.Sometimes,the mother leaves it in church and leaves a note saying "ask a priest to bless my child".But those incidents just make people angry including me.Most would say "whoever you are be ashamed of yourself because you killed an angel".
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
27 Dec 08
Hello maximax. It is a good discussion to have been raised, friend. In my country, it is not illegal to adopt abortion. The pregnant woman is entitled with the right to have or to abort the baby. But I am for the idea to have the baby since it is a life.
@suruchi86 (1873)
• India
26 May 09
I'm from India and I'm not sure but looking at the various MTP Centers running legally, I think it is legal here also. Maybe, with some conditions.
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
15 Dec 08
i am sorry i m not sure about this question.as far as im concerned,young ladies should try not to abort although its legal.we all know that abortion is bad for our health and its extremely unfair to the unborn babies.anyway, its much better than those back street abortions go on in dirty conditions. as for me,im not going to think about it.im going to responsible for my baby.by the way, im a single.
@eynjel05 (444)
• Philippines
7 Dec 08
I am living in the Philippines, knowing that we are all live in a modern world, our country still don't agree to that thing. We still do believe that everyone should have the chance to live in this world. For me, that is not a good practice, because we are not God to decide killing of inocent. God is only the one that have the right in doing such.But sad to say, there are still some who practice that secretly in our country. But I hope they will not caught because definitely, they will pay it.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
7 Dec 08
Abortion is not legal in my country. But people are into this crime of detecting the gender of the foetus and going for abortion if it's a girl or when they do not want the baby! it's such a shame either ways! Gender determination is illegal even but unscrupulous activities go on and I condemn this.
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
7 Dec 08
its not!in Philippines more catholic and its illegal but still many are doing it.
@Erssyl (617)
• Philippines
7 Dec 08
I don't think abortion is right to be legal when the child was conceived by rightfull parents.Here in our country it ca never be legal because even the contraceptives is beeing quetioned here by church authorities.I don't know how these people want an abortion when they know they don't want to get pregnant there are many ways.So why wait for that egg to get fertilized and have it aborted.
• China
7 Dec 08
i come from the mainland in China. it is legal for a woman or girl to choose the abortion in any time or any place. For one thing, the situation could protect the woman's sound health, and for another thing, majority female citizens have no choice but to conform to the family-plan policy. The western nations always denounce the one-child policy, however, to be honest i firmly favor the wiseand sage decision. The main reason is the country contains too much population and it could not provide enough resource and arable land to more people. Now the China also faces the aging society and the gonvernment should adjust the rigid policy.
@myskina (182)
• China
7 Dec 08
yes, it is sure and why not and the medical facilities are perfect in my country however, we should pay more attention to in this way, that`s the more the bad `
• India
7 Dec 08
in my country abortion is illegal but i think its depends upon the person whom wants to do the abortion should allow.and according to me abortion is not a good thing .children is good .before marrige you must use the safety measures.