Increase in abortions after clarity provided by law’s introduction
Doctors happier with legal framework compatible with Islamic perspective to guide their medical decisions
The number of abortions at Abu Dhabi’s largest maternity hospital increased after a law was introduced clarifying the circumstances under which the procedure could be done.
Doctors at the government-run Corniche Hospital said there were about 25 abortions a year between 2013 and 2015.
Last year it rose to 45, while 25 have been carried out so far this year, suggesting a similar or higher number by the end of 2017.
The passing of the Medical Liability Law last year did not change the original 2008 ruling on abortion, but clearly set out what conditions had to be met.
Abortions are considered legal if the mother’s life is at risk because of the pregnancy, or if the foetus is less than 120 days old and has a disorder that makes it “incompatible with life”. Abortion is illegal in all other circumstances.
Dr Ismail Hamade, medical affairs director at Corniche Hospital, said that doctors had avoided performing abortions because of the absence of a clear legal framework.
“The new Medical Liability Law signed by President Sheikh Khalifa provides a legal framework for permissible abortions that is compatible with an Islamic perspective,” Dr Hamade said.
“The framework enables a permissible abortion in certain medical situations and allows physicians to take appropriate medical-legal decisions.
“Today, we as physicians have better understanding of the law and are more comfortable with making these decisions. I think this explains the increase in the number of permissible abortions.”
Dr Hamade said the decision-making process for permissible abortions was hindered by the inability to predict the severity of such foetal conditions, especially in genetic disorders.
After the introduction of the original Medical Liability Law in 2008, the number started to increase.
The abortion is “performed by a consultant specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology and at the recommendation of the treating consultant for the justified termination of pregnancy”, after the consent of the Medical Specialty Board.
“Advances in pre-natal diagnostic techniques and molecular genetics have made it possible for our doctors to perform prenatal diagnosis early enough and to predict the types of genetic disorders, with their potential severity,” Dr Hamade said.
Dr Sameh Azzazy, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Well Care Medical Centre in Abu Dubai, said: “The new law is a relief for us. We now have a better understanding of the criteria for abortions.
“It will also reduce the number of women needing to travel abroad to countries where abortions are legal, and will also hopefully reduce the number of illegal abortions performed by unlicensed and unethical doctors.”
Dr Azzazy said that he had seen many patients who had developed severe complications after illegal abortions
Doctors in the private sector are unsure whether the law allows them to perform abortions. Technically, they are able to secure permission but they say they tend to send patients to government-run hospitals.
Dr Aruna Kumari, who works in obstetrics and gynaecology at Burjeel Hospital, said she had not heard of an abortion in the private sector for eight years.
“We are happy referring them to government hospitals,” Dr Kumari said.
“These cases are very rare and out of the routine, so in a region where abortions are taboo it is safer to refer them to the government.”
The most common cases of permissible abortions for foetal health reasons are anencephaly, lethal chromosomal abnormalities such as Meckel syndrome and Edwards syndrome, and lethal kidney problems.
Permissible abortions for maternal reasons are mainly severe infections, such chorioamnionitis and other life-threatening disorders.