Opening the Dialogue: A First-of-Its-Kind Exploration into Ethics of Termination of Pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate the perspectives and practices of Paediatricians and Obstetricians in Pakistan regarding termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Study design: A cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Paediatrics, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to March 2024.

Methodology: Convenience sampling was used to recruit 69 participants from the paediatrics and obstetrics departments in various healthcare settings in Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was developed by reviewing relevant literature and administered electronically using Google Forms. The participants were contacted through professional networks, associations, and email listservs. The questionnaire comprised four sections: Demographic information, knowledge evaluation, attitude assessment, and practice-related exploration. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequency and percentages.

Results: A significant number of participants, 51 (73.9%), had not attended any TOP-related talks or workshops. More than 90% of study participants believed that both spouses should provide consent for TOP, and 52 (75.4%) were in favour of TOP post-ensoulment due to severe foetal anomalies. However, 46 (66.7%) participants were against TOP and considered themselves pro-life.

Conclusion: The area needs more focus during teaching at both undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels as this study shares a very clear picture that residents and consultants lack knowledge of the basic definition of the concepts of TOP.

Key words: Induced abortion, Beginning of human life, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice.