❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding live births following abortion procedures in WA between 2013-2015. The response confirms such instances occurred, but numbers are suppressed to protect patient confidentiality. No medical interventions were reported.
AnsweredQoN 4218Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Have any abortion procedures in Western Australia resulted in the delivery of a live child in the years 2013, 2014, and 2015: (a) if yes, how many of these aborted babies showed signs of life in: (i) 2013; (ii) 2014; and (iii) 2015; (b) further to (a), were any of these newborn babies that showed signs of life provided any medical intervention: (i) If yes to (b), what medical intervention was provided; and (c) were any of these newborn children that showed signs of life provided any basic care: (i) If yes to (c), what basic care was provided?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 September 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Health
Response time
69 days
Yes.
(a) For each calendar year, the number of abortion procedures in Western Australia that resulted in the birth of a live child were:
(i) Less than five.
(ii) Less than five.
(iii) Less than five.
For the purposes of this response, ‘abortion procedures’ has been defined as a medical abortion (i.e., the figures do not include spontaneous abortions, known as miscarriages), and ‘babies who showed signs of life’ has been defined as the birth of a live child.
Note due to patient confidentiality the response provided did not report figures less than five, in line with the Department of Health’s Guidelines for the Release of Data.
(b) No live born children reported in (a) were provided medical interventions.
(c) Information within the Statewide Health Data Collections held by the Department of Health’s Data Integrity Directorate does not enable reporting of what may be considered basic care (e.g. comfort measures to the infant and/or family support).
(a) For each calendar year, the number of abortion procedures in Western Australia that resulted in the birth of a live child were:
(i) Less than five.
(ii) Less than five.
(iii) Less than five.
For the purposes of this response, ‘abortion procedures’ has been defined as a medical abortion (i.e., the figures do not include spontaneous abortions, known as miscarriages), and ‘babies who showed signs of life’ has been defined as the birth of a live child.
Note due to patient confidentiality the response provided did not report figures less than five, in line with the Department of Health’s Guidelines for the Release of Data.
(b) No live born children reported in (a) were provided medical interventions.
(c) Information within the Statewide Health Data Collections held by the Department of Health’s Data Integrity Directorate does not enable reporting of what may be considered basic care (e.g. comfort measures to the infant and/or family support).
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