Countries Abortion Profile

Law related to Abortion:

Decision of the RA Government #1116 “On  Approval of the Procedure and Conditions for Induced Abortions”

Brief history of the law:

It is well-known that the induced abortions, especially when they are conducted in unsafe conditions, may have a negative impact on woman’s health, even risking her life. Further on they can lead to deterioration of the menstrual or child-bearing function, contribute to increase mortality rate among mothers and prenatal death rate.  Birth rate regulation and the human reproduction rights protection is one of the most important tasks of the state. This sphere is regulated by the RA Law “On the Human Reproduction health and Reproduction Rights” and the RA Government’s decision.   

Short summary of conditions within the law:

• To save the life of the woman                                                        
• To preserve physical health                                                            
• To preserve mental health                                                              
• Rape or incest                                                                               
• Foetal impairment                                                                          
• Economic or social reasons                                                             
• Available on request

 
The procedure and conditions for induced abortions

1. The surgery for  induced abortion is allowed to carry out in case if the pregnancy does not exceed 12 weeks for all women, wishing to intercept the pregnancy and having no medical counter-indications, registered by the decision of the RA Government.         
2. If pregnancy exceeds 12 weeks, the induced abortion is allowed to carry out in case if appropriate medical indication (made up and approved in accordance with appropriate decision of the RA Government – Attachment 3) and social indication (made up and approved by the decision of the RA Government) are available - up to the 22-week pregnancy.
3. The induced abortions up to the 22-week pregnancy in cases, not mentioned in the Attachments 3 and 4, are allowed to carry out only based on the decision to be adopted by the Commission, created by the given medical facility.
4. The surgery of the induced abortion, including mini-abortions, are allowed to carry out in case if the hospital has obstetrician and gynecological aid licenses.
5. The pharmaceutical abortion is allowed in the in-patient departments of the hospitals having obstetrician and gynecological aid licenses. The conditions and counter-indications for the pharmaceutical abortions are approved by the decision of the RA Government

 
Analysis of it being restrictive if at all

The issue of abortion or continuation of pregnancy is solved by the woman. To intercept pregnancy, each woman can apply to the in-patient medical facility and make abortion.

In the recent years some success has been achieved in introduction of safe methods of induced abortion, including development and introduction of the pharmaceutical methods of abortion. 
With the aim of providing for safety of abortions, introducing new methods and improving the process of induced abortions an appropriate decision has been worked out and approved by the decision of the RA Government , the implementation of which is an  important issue, aimed at improvement of the reproduction health, increasing the birthrate and natural  growth, protection of the reproduction rights.
This decision has been made in accordance with the RA Laws “On Medical Aid and Service,” “On Reproduction Health and Reproduction Rights,” as well as the provisions, provided by the WHO and ratified in Armenia.

Indication for the induced abortion is decided in accordance with the list of medical prescriptions, approved by the RA Government, in the ambulatory-clinical or in-patient facilities by the commission procedure, consisted of a gynecologist/ obstetrician, the health professional, to whom the given disease of a pregnant woman refers, and the head of the gynecological and obstetrician department of the given medical facility.

In the conditions of the  in-patient gynecological/obstetrician facility and in case of available medical indication, an appropriate record is fixed in f the given sphere, the doctor in charge and  head of the medical facility.
 
The final solution of the induced abortion based on the medical and social indication shall be agreed upon with the pregnant woman.
If there is a medical indication for abortion because of pregnancy, threatening the woman’s life, and that indication does mentioned in the given list, the issue has to be solved by the Commission with the engagement of required professionals.

The induced abortion is performed by the professional gynecologist at the in-patient department of the hospital.

Both stated-owned and private facilities have the right to provide abortions, guided by  the Government’s decision in the same conditions; the price is 30-50 US Dollars.

Both stated-owned and private facilities have the right to provide abortions, guided by  the Government’s decision in the same conditions; the price is 30-50 US Dollars

2nd Trimester with Ethacridine lactate , Misoprostol, D&E, Hysterotomy.

There has not been registered any  mortal case in the recent years related to the induced abortion.

Mostly foreign devices are purchased.

Mira-Pharm –Russia.

At present within the frameworks of cooperation with WHO standards are being worked out regarding abortions and interception of pregnancy.

In the last decade the number of births decreased by 50 percent. the birthrate, the natural growth – about five times, the birthrate is only 1.2, which even cannot  provide for the simple reproduction; no special differences have been found out in urban/ rural breakdown.

The Government’s  approaches to abortions  are based on the rights of the human reproduction, and the woman herself decides the issues of her pregnancy and abortion.

Church does not encourage abortion, at the same time being neutral in this issue.

Some work is being done in propagandizing contraceptives and aimed at reducing the number of abortions.

Numerous organizations encourage and propagandize the use of contraceptives, contributing to decrease of the number of abortions.