The Cabinet has approved a series of modifications to the current abortion law, only allowing termination under two conditions: if the baby presents a risk to the health of the mother, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape.
The new legislation eliminates the possibility of a woman aborting if deformations of the foetus are detected. Under the current law, women can abort up to their 14th week of pregnancy on demand.
Women will only be able to abort if she is in danger or if it is due to a sexual assault. In the case of rape there must be a prior crime complaint and the termination can only take place during first 12 weeks. The risk to health must involve ¡lasting harm¡ to the mother’s health.
Foetal deformation will no longer be allowed as a reason to request an abortion and will only be considered a valid reason if it is “incompatible with life” of the baby.
A woman requesting an abortion will need the approval of two doctors outside the clinic treating her and all doctors will be able to refuse to perform abortions.
Under-18s will need to be accompanied by their parents, and have their permission, before an abortion can be performed.
The proposed changes now go to Congress for debate in the New Year.
Around 100,000 women choose to have abortions each year in Spain and there are fears that many women would end up going to backstreet clinics for the procedure.