Press Release: Woman in Malta being left to die due to abortion ban

Starts

A US citizen on holiday in Malta is waiting to be evacuated out of the country after being denied an abortion, despite the fact that her life could be in danger, when her waters broke prematurely about a week ago.

The woman, who is 16 weeks pregnant, runs the risk of infection, sepsis, and death – but according to Maltese law, which bans abortion under every circumstance, doctors can only intervene if she is imminently dying.

Doctors for Choice in Malta have made the women’s situation public at her family’s request so she can get the care she needs, or be airlifted to the UK for medical intervention.

Davinia Hamilton, secretary of Abortion Rights in Britain, and herself from Malta, said:

“Malta is letting this woman die because the foetus, which is no longer viable, still has a heartbeat. Doesn’t this woman also have a heartbeat?

“Malta insists they provide the best care for women and pregnant people, despite the abortion ban. But this story shows that is simply not true. A timely termination would not just save this woman’s life, but save her from future complications from sepsis, and from the trauma of having to wait until she is near death to receive basic care.

“There have been other stories like this from Malta. I fear we will end up with our very own version of the Savita case — why do women have to die before this issue can even be discussed?”

Abortion Rights encourages people to email the Maltese Health Minister, Mr Chris Fearne, at christopher.fearne@gov.mt, letting him know that this treatment of women and pregnant people is unacceptable, and that the world will not stand by silently and watch while a woman is left to die.

Ends

Notes to Editor

Media contact for comment and interviews: Judith Orr, Vice National Chair, Abortion Rights (+44 7931 324264)
Abortion in Malta is illegal in all cases, although rarely prosecuted. Malta has one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the world and is the only country in the European Union to prohibit abortion entirely.
According to recent estimations, about 300-400 people in Malta have abortions each year – either by ordering pills online, or by travelling to other countries, like the UK, to access healthcare.
Malta has a population of around 500,000.
Abortion Rights is the only national UK pro-choice campaign.
Abortion Rights campaigns for safe, free, legal and local abortions accessible to all. We campaign through a mix of parliamentary lobbying and grassroots activism to ensure that we represent the 9 in 10 who believe in access to abortion.
One in three women will have an abortion by the time she is 45.