Despite Thailand easing laws on legal abortion, stigma prevails and safe abortion is still out of reach for many. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BANGKOK - For a long time in 2010, Mr Supote Leangbamrong had to endure a stench at Wat Phai Ngern temple in Bangkok where he built pagodas.
One day in November 2010, a stray dog wandered into the temple’s marketplace with a plastic bag in its mouth. The foul smell caught the attention of some devotees who discovered the bag’s gruesome contents and called the police. Significant legislative changes have been made in recent years, and more women can now seek induced abortions legally. But challenges remain, including stigma and limited resources, which hamper access for women.The authorities recovered 2,002 foetuses – at varying stages of decomposition – from the mortuary grounds.
The trio were jailed for varying lengths of time, ranging from three to 20 years. Some of their sentences were later reduced. While there had been some debate on the issue of abortion before, the case brought the discussion back in full force and also highlighted the issue of underage pregnancies. The procedure is also covered under the national healthcare insurance. Women who are up to 12 weeks into pregnancy usually take pills to end it, instead of going for in-clinic abortion.Conservatism hinders access to safe abortion
“A doctor told me that she was worried her child would get a cleft lip because she helped to perform an abortion. That condition comes from genetics or some other factors, so I didn’t expect a doctor to say this,” said Ms Supeecha. Ms Supeecha had an abortion decades ago, but never dared to tell anyone until the 2010 case. She felt compelled to share her experience on an online blog after seeing how those around her lacked compassion or understanding towards the women involved.
“Buddhism also talks about compassion, understanding people, and helping people out of their suffering,” she noted. There is, however, a small but growing network of about 500 medical professionals, including doctors, social workers and nurses, who support abortion services across Thailand.
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