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Medical Association of Jamaica
Policy Statement on Abortion
The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) is committed to facilitating both the access and quality of health care for all Jamaicans.
Further, the primary position of MAJ in this matter includes prevention of unwanted pregnancy, as well as reduction in maternal and fetal mortality.
This can be accomplished by an approach of wide education regarding sexual decision making, the proper use of contraceptives and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
This is further enhanced by improving the living conditions within the community.
The Medical Association of Jamaica strongly supports those activities which prevents unwanted pregnancies.
The Medical Association of Jamaica respects each opinion in the diverse moral pluralism of the abortion debate in society.
The Medical Association of Jamaica further respects individual positions based on the personal values of each member of the Association.
In the case of an unwanted pregnancy, we suggest that all options including raising the child herself and placing the child for adoption be considered.
Under the current common law termination of pregnancy may be indicated for medical reason subject to informed consent, under the following conditions:
significant fetal abnormality;
conditions which threaten maternal welfare or health;
pregnancy as an outcome of rape or incest.
However, the law on the books which is over 150 years old states that not only the patient but also the person carrying out the abortion as well as anyone who may have facilitated her in getting the abortion is liable to imprisonment. The legal advice to the Medical Association of Jamaica purports that the law the on the books take priority over common law when there is any query regarding common law and written law: this needs further clarification.
The Medical Association of Jamaica suggests the following:
That termination of pregnancy is considered only after informed consent, which gives respect to moral right of the patient, her bodily integrity, her self-determination and her freedom within the law. Informed consent should not be sought of patient younger then 18 years or who are mentally impaired. These patients will need the consent of a parent or guardian.
That termination of pregnancy should be carried out as early during the pregnancy as possible and certainly before viability. (The capacity of the fetus to survive outside of the mother’s uterus). The MAJ also suggests that this is a medical matter between the patient and her physician subject to the physician’s clinical judgement. The MAJ also specifies that the threshold should not exceed 20 weeks gestation.
The MAJ advocates that all abortions should be safely performed. This encourages early termination of pregnancy wherever possible. The operator should be trained in the techniques of pregnancy interruption as well as the management of their complications. The MAJ proposes that doctors performing abortion be certified.
The MAJ has a renewed focus of the impact of unsafe abortions on maternal mortality. In 2004, termination of pregnancies in Jamaica was third among the leading causes of maternal death. Jamaica however has signed commitment to important international documents coming out of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Congo in 1994 and ICPD five years later (ICPD+5). This compels us to ensure that the legal, safe, regulated, confidential abortions in facilities equipped with qualified caregivers be available for women who choose this option.
The MAJ is committed to the vision of a reduction of unwanted pregnancies as well as a fifty percent reduction in maternal mortality by the year 2015 as a WHO signatory. The MAJ therefore believes that clarification and review of the law on abortion will facilitate this outcome.
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