Abortion in Singapore
In Singapore, all surgical abortions are performed by a licensed physician at both government and private hospitals and clinics throughout the country, with nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives able to provide medications.
[2] Abortion is available on request as late as 24 weeks or six months of pregnancy, beyond that, when the woman's life is in danger.
[3] In 1994, Singapore was one of 179 members who signed the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action.
They concluded that induced abortion should be made available to more women, and they presented these findings to the Health Ministry of Singapore in 1967.
[12] The legalisation of abortion was not influenced by, but helped to regulate Singapore's high population growth rate in the 1960s.
[3] Chua Sian Chin, the Minister for Health, proposed that the purpose of the bill was designed to protect the health of women "in the interests of humanity and human progress," and "to ensure that the children born are wanted children.
[11] This applied to all women who were citizens or permanent residents, had two or fewer children, or had passed the Primary School Leaving Examination.
[21] According to the Termination of Pregnancy Act, any woman who is a citizen of Singapore, holds a work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, or has resided in Singapore for over four months is permitted to undergo a termination of pregnancy.
These criteria do not apply to "any treatment to terminate pregnancy which is immediately necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman".
[1] The procedure must be undertaken by an authorised medical practitioner in an approved institution, with written consent from the patient.
[1] Unless under special circumstances, the pregnancy may not be terminated if it is older than 24 weeks, unless it will protect the life or health of the pregnant woman.
If the pregnancy is between 16 and 24 weeks, the treatment must be carried out by an authorised medical practitioner with the correct qualifications.
[1] If a patient is undergoing a non-surgical treatment, it is not required that the medical practitioner have qualification, or that the process be undertaken in an approved institution.
[1] Any person found guilty of coercing or intimidating a woman against her will into terminating a pregnancy will be subject to a fine of up to $3000, three years imprisonment, or both.
[1] It is required that all women undertaking a termination of pregnancy participate in pre- and post-abortion counselling.
[1] This includes the patient's name, marital status, and level of education, the number of children the woman has, and the date and method of termination.
[23] Data on abortion numbers and rates in Singapore are recorded, but not widely reported, as it is considered unimportant.
[17] Abortions are also commonly justified by marital status, domestic problems, and medical reasons.
[38] Some readers replied, suggesting that restrictions on abortion would not cause an increase in birth rates, and would create more social inequality.
[38] Any medical professional may conscientiously object to performing a termination of pregnancy on the grounds of religious beliefs.
