Australian teen to stand trial for home abortion

[Beeyotch]

They need to get that requirement off the books because until then it's like Mohandas said, you're at the mercy of the prosecutor, or however the political winds are blowing at the time. You cannot have such a contradiction and uncertainty in law regarding a thing as seriously important as abortion.

[MohandasKGanja]

Originally Posted by A*O

Of course abortion isn't illegal here, but home abortions you carry out yourself using illegal drugs your boyfriend imported from the Ukraine are.

Technically speaking abortions in many countries can only be done legally if the physical or mental welfare of the mother are at risk, but of course that requirement isn't enforced so it's effectively abortion on demand.

If the statutes cited earlier are still on the books, then abortion is illegal in that area of Australia. No doubt about it. Having it be illegal, but rarely enforced, leaves people in a vulnerable position, and subject to political winds that could blow in either direction.

I bet there are plenty of statutes on the books in Australia for either importing pharmaceuticals without a license, or dispensing them without a license, or importing pharmaceuticals that are still illegal. They could have used those against the woman and her boyfriend if they wanted to make an example about bring RU-486 (or whatever it was) in.

But they didn't exercise that part of the legal code. Instead, they enforced the statute against abortion that is still on the books. A statute, which is still a felony.

I wonder how the authorities even found out about her taking this drug in the first place.

[sputnik]

this is fucking ridiculous.

[Shinola]

Hard enough to be 19 and pregnant and make that decision, and apparently not feel you have the money to buy abortion the usual way. Then to be prosecuted for it, too? And if the b/f got the drug and was involved in the whole process, then why is it only the woman who's charged?

[Nevan]

I am also curious how the prosecutors became aware of this.

[katerpillar]

In my state (South Australia) you need to get two doctors to agree that continuing the pregnancy would be detrimental to the physical, mental or emotional wellbeing of the mother. Which basically covers everything - as of course being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy would be harmful! It's a formality, that's all. Abortions are easy to organise and the government (woo universal health care) even pays for it all if it's done at a public hospital or clinic.

I think it's just arranging an abortion yourself, with no medical involvement, that you can be prosecuted for. But as the article mentions, this is the first case in decades in that state... it's definitely not a frequent charge, at all! I'd really be surprised if a jury convicts her.

Also, note to slack reporters: it's just Ukraine, not "the" Ukraine.

[cmmdee]

Originally Posted by Nevan

I am also curious how the prosecutors became aware of this.

Me, too.

[twitchy2.0]

Originally Posted by katerpillar

Also, note to slack reporters: it's just Ukraine, not "the" Ukraine.

Thank you. Pet peeve.

[MysTerious]

I agree that someone should be in court for importing, and using an illegal drug, but as for having an abortion - home or otherwise - that was her own choice & stupidity.

[sputnik]

oh please, no one should stand trial for importing one measly pill either.

[mella]

Abortion is illegal in Germany . Well technically .You're off the hook if you have a doctor perfom it during the first 12 weeks after you had a counselling . Of course medical reasons are ok, too.

[Just Kill Me]

They may have found out because the pill did not work completely and she had to have a vacuuming? Or maybe she has shitty friends?

[Shinola]

I found another article

Tegan Simone Leach to stand trial over abortion | National News | News.com.au

that says the boyfriend is also standing trial and that the police were searching their apartment for some other reason and happened to find the blister packs that had contained the pill/s, along with instructions written in Ukrainian.

[Dorahacky]

Originally Posted by MysTerious

I agree that someone should be in court for importing, and using an illegal drug, but as for having an abortion - home or otherwise - that was her own choice & stupidity.

Why is having an abortion "stupidity?"