❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on abortions performed due to specific fetal conditions and maternal health, as well as related procedures and outcomes. The response indicates that much of the requested data is not systematically collected due to privacy concerns and legislative requirements.
AnsweredQoN 5453Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Since May 1998 how many approvals have been given by the ministerial panel appointed under section 334(7) of the
Health Act 1911
for -
(a) an abortion of an unborn child with trisomy 21;
(b) an abortion of a child with spina bifida;
(c) an abortion of a child with cleft palate and/or cleft lip;
(d) an abortion of a child with dwarfism; and
(e) an abortion on the grounds of a severe medical condition in the mother?
(2) For each of the above (1)(a) to (e), were any of these abortions performed at 23 weeks of pregnancy or later?
(3) For each of the above (1)(a) to (e), did any abortion so approved result in the birth of a live born child?
(4) Since May 1998, how many abortions performed at 20 weeks of pregnancy or more have included an injection of potassium chloride or any other lethal substance into the unborn child prior to or during induction of labour?
(5) When an abortion at 20 weeks or more is approved by the ministerial panel on the grounds of a severe medical condition in the child based on prenatal diagnosis, what steps, if any, are taken after the delivery of the child to confirm the diagnosis?
(6) Have there been any cases since May 1998 in which the prenatal diagnosis of a severe medical condition in the child on which an approval for an abortion at 20 weeks or more was based has been shown to have been incorrect based on subsequent investigation?
(7) Of the 14 babies reported as having been born alive following a procured abortion since May 1998, what is the longest period of postnatal survival?
Health Act 1911
for -
(a) an abortion of an unborn child with trisomy 21;
(b) an abortion of a child with spina bifida;
(c) an abortion of a child with cleft palate and/or cleft lip;
(d) an abortion of a child with dwarfism; and
(e) an abortion on the grounds of a severe medical condition in the mother?
(2) For each of the above (1)(a) to (e), were any of these abortions performed at 23 weeks of pregnancy or later?
(3) For each of the above (1)(a) to (e), did any abortion so approved result in the birth of a live born child?
(4) Since May 1998, how many abortions performed at 20 weeks of pregnancy or more have included an injection of potassium chloride or any other lethal substance into the unborn child prior to or during induction of labour?
(5) When an abortion at 20 weeks or more is approved by the ministerial panel on the grounds of a severe medical condition in the child based on prenatal diagnosis, what steps, if any, are taken after the delivery of the child to confirm the diagnosis?
(6) Have there been any cases since May 1998 in which the prenatal diagnosis of a severe medical condition in the child on which an approval for an abortion at 20 weeks or more was based has been shown to have been incorrect based on subsequent investigation?
(7) Of the 14 babies reported as having been born alive following a procured abortion since May 1998, what is the longest period of postnatal survival?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
42 days
(1)(a - d) In regards to termination of pregnancy > 20 weeks gestation applications referred to in question 1(a) - (d) no statistical data is kept by King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) on the specific condition of the fetus. Section 335 (5) (e) of the Health Act 1911 states that "A notification under paragraph (d) must not contain any particulars from which it may be possible to ascertain the identity of the patient.''
In accordance with the legislative requirements the termination of a pregnancy greater than 20 weeks gestation requires two medical staff who are members of the panel to identify the presence of a 'serious medical condition'. The diagnosis of a complex congenital disorder and/ or malformation is the most common reason for deciding to terminate a pregnancy. The conditions listed in their correspondence can range from mild to severe; may occur in isolation or in conjunction with other major fetal abnormalities; or may occur as part of a complex genetic condition. Due to the complexity and clinical variation that can occur, it can be misleading to focus on a single abnormality as the reason for the termination of pregnancy greater than 20 weeks.
(e) Due to the small number of cases related to mother's health no information will be provided in order to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the affected mothers.
(2) As required a
Form 1 Health (Section 335(5)(d) Abortion Notification) Regulations 1998: Notification by Medical Practitioner of Induced Abortion
is completed and forwarded to the Department of Health when a termination of pregnancy is done. No other statistical data is kept by KEMH on whether a panel approval did or did not result in a termination of pregnancy or the gestation of pregnancy at time of termination.
(3) No data is collected by WA Health on this issue.
(4) Information in relation to specific treatment given to a woman undergoing a termination of pregnancy procedure is held on her confidential health record. No other data is available outside of that reported on
Form 1 Health (Section 335(5)(d) Abortion Notification) Regulations 1998: Notification by Medical Practitioner of Induced Abortion.
(5) All families are offered a post mortem examination to confirm diagnosis. Where consent is obtained further examination is undertaken. During this process families are provided with support and counselling through the Perinatal Loss Services at KEMH. The findings from post delivery assessments are discussed with the mother (and father as appropriate). Relevant clinical information is held on the confidential health record of the individual mother.
(6) As more information becomes available post delivery the diagnosis may become more specific. All relevant information in regards to the pregnancy is contained on the confidential health record of the mother. No separate data is collected.
(7) No data on this issue is collected.
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In accordance with the legislative requirements the termination of a pregnancy greater than 20 weeks gestation requires two medical staff who are members of the panel to identify the presence of a 'serious medical condition'. The diagnosis of a complex congenital disorder and/ or malformation is the most common reason for deciding to terminate a pregnancy. The conditions listed in their correspondence can range from mild to severe; may occur in isolation or in conjunction with other major fetal abnormalities; or may occur as part of a complex genetic condition. Due to the complexity and clinical variation that can occur, it can be misleading to focus on a single abnormality as the reason for the termination of pregnancy greater than 20 weeks.
(e) Due to the small number of cases related to mother's health no information will be provided in order to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the affected mothers.
(2) As required a
Form 1 Health (Section 335(5)(d) Abortion Notification) Regulations 1998: Notification by Medical Practitioner of Induced Abortion
is completed and forwarded to the Department of Health when a termination of pregnancy is done. No other statistical data is kept by KEMH on whether a panel approval did or did not result in a termination of pregnancy or the gestation of pregnancy at time of termination.
(3) No data is collected by WA Health on this issue.
(4) Information in relation to specific treatment given to a woman undergoing a termination of pregnancy procedure is held on her confidential health record. No other data is available outside of that reported on
Form 1 Health (Section 335(5)(d) Abortion Notification) Regulations 1998: Notification by Medical Practitioner of Induced Abortion.
(5) All families are offered a post mortem examination to confirm diagnosis. Where consent is obtained further examination is undertaken. During this process families are provided with support and counselling through the Perinatal Loss Services at KEMH. The findings from post delivery assessments are discussed with the mother (and father as appropriate). Relevant clinical information is held on the confidential health record of the individual mother.
(6) As more information becomes available post delivery the diagnosis may become more specific. All relevant information in regards to the pregnancy is contained on the confidential health record of the mother. No separate data is collected.
(7) No data on this issue is collected.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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