Thailand. Population. Abortion measure.

Abstract

A bill liberalizing abortion in Thailand has been passed by the House of Representatives in an effort to crack down on backstreet quacks, who are said to be endangering the lives of some 10,000 women a year. The measure widens conditions for legal abortion, currently authorized only if the woman's life is in jeopardy or if she is pregnant as a result of rape. Under the bill, abortions will be permitted if the woman's physical or mental health is endangered, if there is reason to believe that the child will be born deformed, or if contraceptive measures prescribed by doctors fail to take effect.