Woman had abortion and hid foetus
A 20-year-old woman has been arrested in central Italy for infanticide, after reportedly having an abortion when she was between seven and eight months pregnant.
The woman from Civitaquana, in the province of Pescara, was arrested earlier this month over the late abortion, Rai News reported on Wednesday.
She allegedly had the abortion at a clinic not managed by the national health service, between the end of January and early February, before hiding the foetus.
Police are also investigating a local gynecologist and a retired nurse, in addition to friends of the woman. The woman separated from her 28-year-old husband during the pregnancy, Rai News said.
Under Italian law abortion is legal, although after three months into a pregnancy termination is only allowed if the foetus is deformed or the mother’s health is at risk.
A conscience clause also allows medical professionals to refuse abortions at any stage of pregnancy, making access to the procedure difficult for some women.
Over the Easter weekend a woman went to a clinic in north-west Italy for the second stage of a medical abortion, only for the doctor on duty to deny her help. The health authorities are now deciding whether to take action against the doctor, as Italian law denotes that despite the conscience clause, every clinic must provide abortion services.
READ MORE: Italian doctor 'refused to assist abortion'
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The woman from Civitaquana, in the province of Pescara, was arrested earlier this month over the late abortion, Rai News reported on Wednesday.
She allegedly had the abortion at a clinic not managed by the national health service, between the end of January and early February, before hiding the foetus.
Police are also investigating a local gynecologist and a retired nurse, in addition to friends of the woman. The woman separated from her 28-year-old husband during the pregnancy, Rai News said.
Under Italian law abortion is legal, although after three months into a pregnancy termination is only allowed if the foetus is deformed or the mother’s health is at risk.
A conscience clause also allows medical professionals to refuse abortions at any stage of pregnancy, making access to the procedure difficult for some women.
Over the Easter weekend a woman went to a clinic in north-west Italy for the second stage of a medical abortion, only for the doctor on duty to deny her help. The health authorities are now deciding whether to take action against the doctor, as Italian law denotes that despite the conscience clause, every clinic must provide abortion services.
READ MORE: Italian doctor 'refused to assist abortion'
Don't miss a story about Italy - Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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