Effective October 26th, new regulations allowing abortions up to 20 weeks stipulate an authorized medical practitioner’s approval. This change elaborates on the amendment passed on February 7, 2021, which legalized terminating pregnancy within 12 weeks — the first trimester. Mothers who have been checked for health risks and obtained medical endorsement can now have the procedure done at hospitals or clinics. Some appreciate the stretch in freedom; some argue abortions be allowed at any point of the pregnancy period.
Brief History
Only in February of 2020 did the Constitutional Court strike abortion statutes from the Criminal Code (Section 301), citing it as violation of life, liberty and gender equality. Prior, abortion in Thailand was illegal, exempting patients under the age of 15, whose delivery will pose a danger to the mental or physical health of the mother or child, or who were victims of incest or rape. And yet, people sought out abortions — an astounding estimated 80,000 to 300,000 performed per year.
One year after February 19, 2020, Thailand saw sanction for abortions in the first trimester; medical professionals can accept standard cases under this law. On October 26, 2022, pregnancy terminations in an (ideally) safe, friendly, and confidential environment will officially be legal; given that patients, who have notified and consulted their authorized healthcare provider, have not carried the child more than 20 weeks, and of course, won’t experience complications during or after the procedure.
Barriers
Abortion is a taboo in Thai culture: it goes against Buddhist beliefs and is not only undiscussed, but is looked down upon. This societal aversion to the topic, accompanied by the former prohibitions, stands in the path of accessible and safe terminations. Especially for teenage mothers, — the numbers of which heavily influence the loosening restrictions — cost, distrust of healthcare providers, and requisite parental consent impel them to mortal methods. Of over 300,000 mothers who sought abortions from 2009 to 2019, one-third ran into complications and infection.
Third and Final
Despite the availability of WHO-approved pills, the numbers of abortion cases inflate, which could be due to a lack of openness on the matter. Awareness and normalization may reduce contraceptive misuse or unfamiliarity. Even statistics on this are slightly foggy; many don’t speak about it. The government may not wholly support terminating fetuses, but it comprehends the consequences of shrouded access. Perhaps by not interdicting uncensored discussion and by removing gags of propriety, we lower ignorance.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Thailand#Abortion_statistics
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/S0968-8080%2802%2900020-4
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2401710/elective-abortion-rule-to-be-eased
https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-thailand-statutes-4de6fb7a91e9007be6418561f67be5ae
— Writer Amarisa Chalermratananon can be reached at holyshishkabab@gmail.com. Follow ze/zir/zirs on instagram @beautiful_croissant
— Editor Yu (Lulu) Juan can be reached at juanyu.lulu@gmail.com. Follow her on instagram @juanyu.lulu
