Posted on 05/11/2006 6:10:13 PM PDT by wagglebee
QUEENSLAND prison authorities transferred a female inmate who was 23 weeks pregnant across the NSW border to Tweed Heads to have a late-term abortion. Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence confirmed the abortion move in the Queensland Parliament yesterday, but declined to give details about the prisoner.
"This event took place on doctor's orders," Ms Spence said.
"The prisoner had counselling. A number of professionals had spoken to the prisoner and given the recommendation that the abortion proceed."
After receiving the abortion, the woman was brought back to a suburban Brisbane hospital at Greenslopes for further medical treatment.
Ms Spence gave the information after being asked about the abortion by Opposition corrective services spokesman Vaughan Johnson.
Mr Johnson had asked: "Why, on April 26, 2006, a prisoner was taken from the women's prison by a corrective services escort vehicle, accompanied by prison guards, to Tweed Heads to undergo the abortion of a 23-week fetus?"
Outside Parliament, Mr Johnson said approval for the prisoner to have the abortion "to my way of thinking, it is an evil act that the Government should not condone".
"I understand the prisoner was threatening self-harm, but there has to be a more humane way of caring for the woman and the unborn child until such time as the baby is born.
"If the woman needed an abortion, it should have been done earlier, and not at 23 weeks," he said.
Ms Spence said that in accordance with community standards, the prisoner had received a psychological assessment, counselling and independent medical advice.
"That advice indicated there was an unacceptable risk to the patient's physical and medical wellbeing," she said.
"Medical opinion supported the view that the procedure was in the best interest of the patient. A late-pregnancy termination can be conducted legally in Queensland."
Ms Spence said second trimester terminations in Queensland were conducted by very few specialists, and the closest specialist available in Brisbane was on leave.
"This required the prisoner's transfer to an available specialist based in Tweed Heads," Ms Spence said.
Pro-Life Ping
something's not right here
For a minute I thought this was really wrong.
But as long as "professionals" recommended it, I feel much better. (/sarc)
i'm so dissapointed...(not sarcasm)
It seems to me the prison wanted to get rid of the evidence of the rape of a prisoner.
Everything is, you know, merely a matter of "convenience."
Joe Bejelke-Peterson surely had his Human falibilities but would never have condoned this evil!
Twenty-three week "fetus," indeed.
BUMPping
If the prisoner had threatened to harm herself unless someone killed her mother, would the Australian authorities have sent a hit squad out to do the old lady in? (In the Netherlands, I suppose, they might well do just that.)
What is the mother's sentence. Her baby received the death penalty! It is disgraceful!!!!
<< What is the mother's sentence. Her baby received the death penalty! It is disgraceful!!!! >>
It is crossing a state line for the purpose of committing a crime.
The crime of infanticide.
And that's not disgraceful.
It's an obscenity.
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