Women shouldn't have to travel interstate for abortions, doctor says

Tasmanian gynaecologist says other states should learn from problems arising when private surgical abortion clinics close

Women who need surgical abortions between nine and 14 weeks of pregnancy will be left in the lurch throughout Australia unless state and territory governments learn from Tasmania and start preparing for the closure of private abortion providers, gynaecologist Dr Paul Hyland says.

Hyland has been Tasmania’s primary surgical abortion provider for 17 years, but was recently forced to close his Hobart clinic, the only provider of surgical abortions to women in the state. While public hospitals also carry out surgical abortions, these are not routine, and are usually reserved for women in later stages of pregnancy who are experiencing life-threatening and emergency complications.

Related: Albury's only abortion clinic: protests 'push women to point of self-harm'

Types of abortion

Related: How much do abortions cost across Australia? – explainer

Continue reading... January 20, 2018 at 04:22AM