LATE-TERM ABORTIONS ON RISE

Sunday Herald Sun, October 3, 2004

TERMINATIONS AT BETWEEN 20-27 WEEKS

Controversial late-term abortions are increasing in Victoria, new figures show.

In 2002, there were 163 terminations at or beyond 20 weeks' gestation spanning the second and third trimesters. The figure increased more than 40 per cent since 2000. Statistics for 2003 are still being complied.

The detection of congenital abnormalities, such as heart defects and Down syndrome, was the reason behind 103 abortions.

The terminations resulted in 73 stillbirths and 30 neonatal deaths - a live birth with death occurring shortly after.

There were 60 stillbirths recorded as the result of termination for psycho-social reasons. Most of the terminations occurred between 20 and 27 weeks' gestation. The figures are contained in the recently released Consultative Council on Obstetric and Pediatric Mortality and Morbidity 2002 annual report.

A council spokesperson said there were about 15 to 20 public and private facilities performing late-term abortions in Victoria. The Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Act requires a stillbirth be recorded if a fetus is terminated at or beyond 20 weeks gestation.

In 2000, a woman threatening suicide terminated her 32 week pregnancy at the Royal Women's Hospital after learning her child may have dwarfism.

Performing abortions after 28 weeks is illegal in Victoria unless a mother's health is at risk.

Right to Life Australia president Margaret Tighe said she was disturbed by the increasing trend of late-term abortions. "There's no problem so great that a mother should have to kill her child," she said.

But the Queensland based International Society of Abortion Dr David Grundmann said there were many valid reasons for a late abortion including the detection of a serious fetal abnormality. Licensing conditions stopped him performing abortions in Queensland at or beyond 20 weeks - a situation he hopes to eventually change, he said. Dr Grundmann said Victoria was one of the only places in the country offering the service and maintained late abortions were still relatively rare. "It's not something that happens regularly, everyday and everywhere," he said,