February 2018

In line with the recommendations of groups such as the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMAQ), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Queensland Nurses Union, the Health Consumers Queensland submission, and Children by Choice submission to the Law Reform Commission Review, the Atheist Foundation of Australia supports and proposes the following answers to the questions provided by the QLRC Review of Termination of Pregnancy Laws 2018.

Who should be permitted to perform or assist in performing terminations.

Q-1 Who should be permitted to perform, or assist in performing, lawful terminations of pregnancy?

Due to the need for safe health practices and medical expertise to legally perform or assist in terminations of pregnancy, registered health and medical practitioners with appropriate qualifications and training should be mandatory in these cases.

In recognition of technological advancements and changes in the development of medication abortion, it should be acknowledged that mid-level providers of medication abortion (via health practitioners such as pharmacists and nurse practitioners) do exist in overseas practices. Such trends in healthcare, with medication supplied by medically trained and legal alternatives, should be considered by the commission (1).

This is particularly relevant considering the geographic isolation and limited access to providers that some women may face in the state of Queensland.

Q-2 Should a woman be criminally responsible for the termination of her own pregnancy?

No.

Under no circumstance should a woman be criminally charged for a termination they consented to. The state of Queensland should additionally support same national legislative consistency in that regard.

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