Victorian doctors who object to abortion ‘attempting to delay or deny access’

Victorian doctors who object to abortion 'attempting to delay or deny access'
Study reveals failure of legal protections to ensure women’s access to terminations

Melissa Davey
Thu 31 Jan 2019

Victorian doctors who conscientiously object to abortion are breaking the law by failing to refer women on to practitioners who will perform the procedure, leading to some women having abortions later than necessary or having the baby despite wanting a termination.

This was the finding from a study led by associate professor Louise Keogh at the University of Melbourne, who examined whether mandatory referral, introduced in Victoria during abortion law reforms in 2008, was making healthcare more accessible to women.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/31/victorian-doctors-who-object-to-abortion-attempting-to-delay-or-deny-access

Australia – Why abortion should not be a crime

Why abortion should not be a crime

By Philip Goldstone
27 September 2018

As a doctor who has worked in the field of reproductive healthcare for many years, I could list so many evidence-based and peer-researched studies and reasons on why abortion should be decriminalised. But the most profound and overriding reason for me is to end the shame and stigma that we heap onto women accessing this health service each and every day.

Shame and stigma is something that I am familiar with; I have worked in the mental health sector and I have worked in the women’s health sector. Both of these areas share the dark burden of shame and stigma. And as a doctor I have seen what happens when that shame and stigma becomes too much. It results in crippling guilt, psychological trauma and sometimes self-harm.

Continued: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/why-abortion-should-not-be-a-crime-20180926-p50665.html

Australia – Greens push for legal at-home abortions for Canberra women

Greens push for legal at-home abortions for Canberra women

By Elise Scott
Updated Sun

The ACT Greens are pushing for women in Canberra to be able to order the abortion pill over the phone or through their GP to have at-home medical abortions.

It is a service available to women in most of the country, but in the ACT abortions can only be carried out at the territory's abortion clinic or the Canberra Hospital.

Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-19/greens-to-bring-legislation-for-at-home-abortions/9561748