BBC NEWS | Europe | Barcelona abortion clinic arrests Quote:
Police in Spain have arrested four people suspected of carrying out illegal abortions in Barcelona.
The arrests followed raids on several clinics as part of an investigation following a complaint from a pro-choice group called e-Cristians, police said.
Spanish media reported that up to four clinics were searched, including one suspected of performing abortions on women more than 32 weeks pregnant.
The upper limit for abortions in Spain is 22 weeks.
Spain allows abortions to avoid serious risk to the physical or mental health of the woman, and in cases of rape or foetal deformation.
In case of foetal impairment, two specialists, other than the doctor performing the abortion, must certify that the child would suffer from severe physical or mental defects.
Undercover filming
One of the raided Barcelona clinics is thought to have featured in a documentary broadcast on Danish television last year in which undercover filming showed doctors offering women from across Europe late-term abortions.
The gynaecologist who runs the clinic was filmed apparently offering to perform an abortion on an undercover journalist in her eighth month of pregnancy.
Abortions can be performed in Spain within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in the case of rape and within 22 weeks in the case of foetal impairment.
Under Spanish law a doctor convicted of performing an illegal abortion faces a prison term of between one and three years and a ban from the medical profession.
A woman found guilty of having an illegal abortion can face between six to 12 months behind bars. |
It's a good thing they laid out the ruels and laws in Spain in regards to abortions.... as they vary around the globe..... their above logic in the required timeline, health concerns or rape are justified abortions imo.... but these late abortions are something I can't agree on.... they should have delt with the issues earlier then the time they have been reported.
Nov 26, 2007, 02:34 pm
