According to WHO guidelinesIf a doctor conscientiously objects to providing an abortion, the country’s health system must refer the patient to an alternative health care provider. However, forced referral is a poor solution and is often conscientiously opposed by medical professionals. reluctant To ensure that the patient is referred to someone who will provide the care they need. Hochter said this systemic failure to secure backup providers is one of the main reasons for the lack of access in some European countries, including Italy.
Conscientious objection to military service is on the rise in some countries, notably Croatia, Romania and Slovakia. Other countries, such as Sweden, Finland and Bulgaria, have also outlawed abortion, ensuring that access to abortion is considered legitimate. part of the obligation of health care providers.
but research found that the most common reason for traveling for abortion treatment, as seen in Ireland, is the country’s gestational age limit. WHO recommends against banning abortion based on gestational age Over 20 European countries, access to abortion is limited to 12 weeks. Restrictions may be more stringent in some locations. Croatia and Portugal, for example, have a 10-week limit.
Many people often need an abortion beyond the limits of their country because of failed medical abortions, costs, other barriers, or ignorance of pregnancy. Research has shown that Denied abortion because of gestational age restrictions can result in unwanted continuation of pregnancies, especially for those with cognitive impairment.
Many countries with a 12-week limit also have complex exceptions that allow subsequent abortions. Take Greece for example. The 12-week limit has been changed to 19 weeks for rape and incest, and 24 weeks for fetal abnormalities that endanger the mother’s life or cause serious, permanent damage to the mother’s body. It will be removed entirely if possible. Or mental health. However, there are only a handful of countries in Europe, such as the Netherlands, England, Wales, and Spain, where midterm abortions are available on request, and some countries are inundated with requests for care after 12 months of pregnancy. There will be – Weekly limit.
In some countries with strict restrictions, access to abortion may depend on how strictly the law is interpreted. Abortion is illegal in Germany, but pregnant women can get an abortion up to the 12th week if they agree to counseling, and even later if the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s health. In England the opposite is true. There are free laws, but they are enforced. In June 2023, UK citizens were offered the following services: Severe caution When a woman was sentenced to 28 months in prison for lying to obtain abortion pills after passing the statutory limit, she argued that abortion beyond 24 weeks was still a criminal offence.
Then there is the issue of expenses. If you have travel funds, the costs don’t end there. Non-residents must pay. €1,000 or more For example, getting an abortion in Holland. Even those who do not travel abroad for abortion 31 countries In Europe, abortion is not covered by national health insurance, so cost is a major barrier and disproportionately affects marginalized populations. Refugees, people with disabilities and those who cannot afford to travel are already being further hindered by state restrictions.
Hochter cautions against ignoring the wave of progress in reproductive rights over the past year, in part because of what is happening in America today. Europe may not be the utopia some think it is, but progress continues.the waiting period is thrown in the trash Spain has a gestational age limit. expanded France requires approval of two doctors Dismantled in Finland. “It’s very important to document the progress that’s happening,” says Hochter. But the battle for reproductive rights continues not just in the United States, but in every country in the world. “Overall, there is room for improvement in every country in the region.”