From Now On, Girls Over 16 Will Make Their Own Decisions Regarding Abortion

The government has made a decision that clarifies the conditions for the implementation of artificial termination of pregnancy. According to the new regulations, based on the term of pregnancy, it is established that up to 8 weeks, medical termination can also be performed in outpatient conditions, with a written application required for social indications.

Additionally, the term "minor" is replaced with "under 16 years old," thereby stipulating the requirement for written consent from a legal representative only for patients under 16 years of age. It codifies the right of adolescent girls over 16 to independently make decisions regarding the artificial termination of pregnancy. Moreover, when the parent or other legal representative of a person under 16 is absent, provisions will ensure the involvement of a contact person authorized by them, while also taking the child's opinion into account.

The consent forms intended for individual cases of medical intervention have been recognized as invalid, which will help avoid unnecessary repetitions. A commonly used diagnosis among doctors, “non-developing pregnancy,” has been added to the first item on medical indications related to the fetal or child's pathological condition, which is substantively equivalent to the diagnosis of “stillborn,” as omitting the latter had previously been a source of misunderstanding.

A provision has been proposed that requires the uploading of a woman's application for artificial termination of pregnancy to the electronic health system.