Ottawa – Highlights of the legislation to amend the Criminal Code provisions on abortion:
– Abortion would be permitted at any stage of pregnancy if one doctor agrees the physical, mental or psychological health of the mother is threatened.
– Each case would be decided by the doctor, acting on what the bill calls generally accepted medical standards.
– Anyone else committing an abortion faces up to two years in prison.
What the bill does not say
– the exemptions are far wider than under the old law.
– “physical, mental and psychological health” includes socio-economic reasons.
– Abortions are no longer restricted to hospitals (by federal law) but may be done anywhere.
– Abortions are not restricted by time of pregnancy. If many doctors will refrain from aborting babies past 20 weeks, some doctors will not.
– There is no protection for the unborn baby whatever.
