Germany’s medical system sidelines abortion

Germany's medical system sidelines abortion
Abortion doctors can be hard to find in Germany. In some cities there are none, and their number appears to be declining, while medical schools often fail to teach the procedure so crucial to women. Papayas help a bit.

Date 11.05.2018
Author Nancy Isenson

Around 101,200 abortions were performed in Germany in 2017, or 277 each day. It's not exactly a rare procedure. Which is why future doctor Alicia Baier was disturbed to find that abortion played virtually no role in her studies at Berlin's Charité university medical school.

"In six years of studies, in which we learn many details that we will not need later, we learn almost nothing about such an important intervention," she says.

Continued: http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-medical-system-sidelines-abortion/a-43702057

German parties to vote on ‘out of date’ Nazi-era abortion law

German parties to vote on 'out of date' Nazi-era abortion law
Doctors face two-year jail sentences for advertising or giving information on abortion

Kate Connolly in Berlin
Sun 11 Mar 2018

A debate over proposals to scrap a Nazi-era law that forbids German doctors from providing information on abortion is expected to set the tone of the new coalition government when it is voted on this week.

Under paragraph 219a of the German penal code, it is a crime to advertise, offer or give information on abortion services, and those found guilty of doing so can face a two-year jail sentence or a hefty fine.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/11/german-parties-to-vote-on-out-of-date-nazi-era-abortion-law

11.03.2018

Paragraph 219a German criminal code

Germany: Pot, abortion and Deniz Yücel top marathon debate day in Bundestag

Germany: Pot, abortion and Deniz Yücel top marathon debate day in Bundestag
German MPs sat through a long day of debates covering issues from pot, to burqa bans, to abortion "advertisements," to journalist Deniz Yücel's work. DW breaks down what happened.

22.02.2018
Rebecca Staudenmaier

Decriminalizing abortion 'advertising'

What was proposed: The Greens and the Left party each proposed draft laws to repeal paragraph 219a of Germany's criminal code. The clause makes it a crime for anyone who publically "offers, announces [or] advertises" abortion services. Those who do so can be jailed for two years or face a fine.

The business-friendly, free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) recommended amending the clause so that it only penalizes abortion advertising "which is done in a roughly offensive manner."

Continued: http://www.dw.com/en/germany-pot-abortion-and-deniz-y%C3%BCcel-top-marathon-debate-day-in-bundestag/a-42704715

22.02.2018

Paragraph 219a German criminal code

‘Abortion in Germany – where providing information is a crime’

'Abortion in Germany - where providing information is a crime'

The Local
12 February 2018

It is high time that Germany scraps a 1930s law that forbids doctors from providing women with complete information on how to terminate a pregnancy, argues Kate Cahoon.

Germany is seen as a pretty liberal country. Alcohol is sold in supermarkets and is practically cheaper than bottled water, kids can buy a large enough quantity of fireworks to blow up a small house, and gay marriage is legal (okay, only since last year, but Christopher Street Day in Berlin attracts such a crowd it’s almost a public holiday). But there are some things you can’t do – particularly if you’re a woman and say, pregnant, or a doctor who carries out pregnancy terminations.

Continued: https://www.thelocal.de/20180212/abortion-in-germany-where-providing-information-is-a-crime

Germany’s ambiguous abortion laws rankle with all sides

Germany’s ambiguous abortion laws rankle with all sides
The country’s vague regulations are stirring tensions with both camps seeking change

Mon, Feb 5, 2018
Derek Scally

It’s almost 20 years ago, but Annika* remembers her abortion clearly. It was 1999, she had just moved from Zürich to Berlin with her two children after the break-up of her marriage.

It was only during the second, hassled month of building a new life in the German capital that she noticed her period hadn’t arrived.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/germany-s-ambiguous-abortion-laws-rankle-with-all-sides-1.3379731