...I have just been to several websites and have concentrated on the Law in NSW being that it occurred in a Sydney Hospital... that being said... on this website ...
http://australia.angloinfo.com/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/termination-abortion/ ... it informs me...
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Abortion and the Law
In Australia the law surrounding abortion is defined by each state. Abortions can be carried out legally everywhere in the country to protect the health of a woman, though the precise definition of this differs depending on the state or territory. In most of the country the laws relating to abortion can be summarised as follows:
- It is against the law to administer any poison or use any instrument or other means to procure a miscarriage.
- It is an offence for a woman to attempt to bring about her own miscarriage.
- It is an offence to supply the means (a drug or instrument) to procure a miscarriage.
There is no legal requirement for a woman's partner to consent to an abortion, nor is there an enforced waiting period before one may be carried out. The laws surrounding abortion in Australia are inconsistent and often confusing, both for women and for health professionals
A summary of the legal status of abortion services in each state or territory is given below:
New South Wales
Abortions are considered lawful in New South Wales if the pregnancy puts the mental or physical health of the mother at risk.
Any of a woman's life circumstances, not just medical aspects, can be used to justify the need for an abortion. Abortion services are available
up to weeks 18 to 20 of pregnancy. A woman of 14 or 15 years of age can give informed consent for an abortion if a doctor deems her mature enough to do so. Under the age of 14 women need consent from a parent or guardian, or a Supreme Court before they can have an abortion.
- For more information on abortion law in New South Wales: Click here
Note: In both New South Wales and Queensland the legality of abortions is based on a common law interpretation of the criminal code. This makes it difficult to determine legality and can lead to significant confusion for both doctors and women.
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...it does say '
Any of a woman's life circumstances, not just medical aspects, can be used to justify the need for an abortion.'... I cannot believe that means that she can legally refuse a blood transfusion to save her baby... that must surely mean that it's something that is threatening her ability to stay alive... I could understand if she was about to die by giving birth to the child but believing in and adhering to the rules of her faith could not possibly be seen as an endangerment to her
life... it says... '
any of a woman's life circumstances'... not 'religious' circumstances... technically a religious belief cannot physically kill you in this day and age... so therefore the baby has the right to be saved doesn't it?...
...I found rule #2 to be quite interesting... '
it is an offence for a woman to attempt to bring about her own miscarriage'... doesn't that include refusing treatment no matter what the reasons to save the child if not the mother's life too?...
...it also says that abortion services are available up to 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy... so doesn't that stand as the time when a feotus is considered to be becoming a human being?... if so then from that time onwards it is the duty of the mother to protect that child until childbirth unless it is a danger to her health from the way that I see it... geez... talk about a fine legal line or what?...
...anyhow... that's how I'm seeing at this moment in time... please feel free to correct me if I am not seeing this the right way because this is all a fuzzy line now... as I say... I welcome your opinions... cheers.