Abortion Law

The lawsuit against Abortion Supervisory Committee could be very interesting.

It is certainly true that effectively New Zealand has abortion on demand. And it is also true that law was designed to allow them on grounds of danger to physical or mental health only.

There is certainly a case to be made that if NZ wants abortion on demand, then the law should explicitly state this.

The law is covered in the Crimes Act 1961 – specifically Section 187A(1), paragraph (a) which states:

“That the continuance of the pregnancy would result in serious danger (not being danger normally attendant upon childbirth) to the life, or to the physical or mental health, of the woman or girl”

There are other grounds relating to if the child would be seriously handicapped, is the result of incest or rape, the mother is retarded.

Personally I don’t think legislative blocking of abortion is desirable or effective, but the issue here is whether the practice complies with the legislation.