Hungary: Women have to listen to heartbeat before abortion
Hungary's government has tightened its abortion rules, which will make the process of pursuing a termination more difficult for pregnant women.
Hungary's government has tightened its abortion rules, which will make the process of pursuing a termination more bureaucratic for pregnant women.
From Thursday onwards, pregnant women will have to listen to the fetus' heartbeat before having an abortion.
Doctors will have to submit a report confirming that this has been done.
Hungary's nationalist government recently blamed increased rates of women in higher education for lower birth rates and a shrinking economy.
In a decree issued on Monday, Hungary's interior ministry urges gynaecologists, obstetricians, and other pre-natal healthcare providers to present pregnant women with a fetus' vital functions in a "clearly identifiable way" from 15 September onwards.
According to medical practice, the sign of a fetus' vital functions can be a heartbeat. Far-right politician Dora Duro welcomed the decree, calling it a step towards "protecting all fetuses from conception".
Amnesty International Hungary said the amended decree would make it harder to access legal and safe abortion.
Abortion has been legal in Hungary since 1953.
For more details, Newsday have been speaking to Judit Zeller from the the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.
(Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP) (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)
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