South Africa – Constitutional Court hearing on fetal burial after miscarriage

NOVEMBER 12, 2021
International Campaign for Safe Abortion

A proposal by representatives of two anti-abortion groups and the Catholic Church has made its way up the court system in South Africa to the Constitutional Court and had it first hearing on 4 November 2021 by eight justices in an initial a four-hour hearing. 

The issue was whether, after a miscarriage at any point less than 26 weeks of pregnancy, the “parents of an unborn child” should have the right, though not the obligation, to bury the fetal remains, including informally (e.g. in their own garden). As it stands, the law itself does not appear to prohibit this, but in line with BADRA, the official regulations for data collection on births and deaths, it is not allowed. After all such miscarriages, the fetal remains must be incinerated in the hospital.

Continued: https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/news/south-africa-voice-of-the-unborn-baby-constitutional-court-hearing-on-fetal-burial-after-miscarriage/


South Africa – Mothers who abort never really request to bury the foetus, says abortion advocacy group

By Goitsemang Tlhabye
Apr 10, 2021

Gauteng - While the parents of babies miscarried at under 26 weeks can finally bury their foetus if they so wish, whether or not mothers who terminate pregnancy should be given the same allowance remains a heated debate.

A mother who requested to remain anonymous said she opted to have an abortion at six weeks and didn’t want to have the option of burying the foetus as a funeral would result in a lot of questions from friends and family regarding her choice to abort.

Continued: https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/mothers-who-abort-never-really-request-to-bury-the-foetus-says-abortion-advocacy-group-27b9ff3b-53b1-4252-ae33-0187f435647c


USA: Catholic Hospital Pressured Women to Bury Their Fetuses—Then Pence Made It Law

Catholic Hospital Pressured Women to Bury Their Fetuses—Then Pence Made It Law

Nov 2, 2017
Amy Littlefield

While many find comfort in fetal burial programs, imposing these practices on everyone who loses or ends a pregnancy can cause profound shame and distress, a Rewire investigation found.

Texas has seen some of the nation’s most regressive abortion restrictions in recent years. This series chronicles the fall-out of those laws, and the litigation that has followed.

Tethered to an IV, naked under her hospital gown, Kate Marshall felt trapped as the chaplain approached her bed. It was 2015, and Marshall was awaiting surgery at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Indiana after losing a much-wanted pregnancy. She had not asked to speak with a chaplain, but the man had nonetheless entered her room and then pressed her to sign a consent form that would allow the Catholic hospital to bury her 11-week fetus in a cemetery plot.

Continued at source: https://rewire.news/article/2017/11/02/catholic-hospital-pressured-women-bury-fetuses-pence-made-law/