Of Coathangers and Edicts (and huge heads)

Indonesia is plagued with moral issues; given the number of differing religions it is not surprising that common ground to suit everyone is very rare. An issue throughout the world is abortion and here, as always, it raises some very tough questions.

Abortion is “mostly illegal” with the exception for some medical situations where it is considered acceptable to save a mothers life. Despite this situation there are (as is the case throughout the world) many unmarried women who fall pregnant (personally I always wondered how you “fall” pregnant, I’ve never tried it in that position before) and go for illegal abortions, not always with trained medical staff often using traditional herbal remedies and vigorous massage. (Read coathangers and unspecified medicines)

They do not have access to this professional treatment as I already mentioned abortion is only permitted to save a mother’s life. If found to have terminated an unwanted pregnancy, the doctors doctor can face up to 15 years in prison, while if caught the woman wanting a termination could be jailed for up to 4 years.

There have been recent reports of failed abortion cases where the fetus could not be terminated successfully and survived within the uterus. These babies were later born with mental and physical disabilities like hydrocephalus (a condition causing spinal fluid to swell patients brain as seen below with a child in care) and subsequently these children were abandoned with orphanages having to deal with the aftermath.



According to the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) — the ultimate clerical body in Indonesia — rape victims are permitted to have an abortion up to the 40th day of the pregnancy. But, women who have become pregnant married or otherwise are not. The poor unwed Kampung Chick who gets “wham bam thank you mammed” is in trouble, deep, deep trouble and the MUI have ensured that she stays that way.

The blame lies squarely on ignorance. Facts about sex and contraceptive methods are not taught openly here, but, when you add the rigid social standards, traditions and the MUI’s opinions, it is not difficult to figure out who is responsible for these thousands of abortions carried out in poorly equipped conditions each year.

At the risk of offending the pro-lifers, I’d say that Indonesia needs to take a harder look at what is going on, or alternatively, allow the morning after pill to be sold at an affordable price to avoid all these “innocent complications”.