Decriminalise the abortion law

THE EDITOR: We would like to commend The Honourable Minister of Health, John Rahael, for his attempts at improving the quality of health care for all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. In a report on Wednesday May 12 2004, Mr Rahael refers to the Patients Charter of Rights and Obligations which outlines among other rights “the right to receive respectful treatment from providers of health care at all times and under all circumstances.” In light of this, we are petitioning the Honourable Minister to revisit the current law of abortion which states that it is a criminal offence for any women to procure an abortion.

This current law proves to be a major public health issue as it endangers the life of an estimated 10,000 women a year. Complications of unsafe abortions necessitate services such as blood transfusions, emergency and hospital care, and cost taxpayers approximately one million dollars per month. This money could be better utilised to improve the standard of health care, particularly those of poor women. While abortion is a sensitive and intense personal decision, we can not continue to ignore the plight of poor women who have unsafe, clandestine abortions resulting in complications and unwarranted public health costs.

DAVID  D K SOOMARIE
ASPIRE