Thai perspectives on abortion

Abstract

Abortion in Thailand is formally illegal except for the reasons of rape, damage of the fetus or mental health grounds. Despite restrictive abortion laws, an estimated two to three hundred thousands abortions take place in Thailand every year. A significant number of these are performed in illegal clinics which have no legally enforced standards, and often by untrained practitioners. The illegality forces prices to be high, treatment to be rushed, as well as stressful and of poor quality. The necessary follow up of the patient after the abortion to make sure the abortion is complete a week or two after may fall through with the illegal clinics. This is the first ethical issue, that many abortions are performed with unsafe methods, and continues to be an issue requiring policy review. As a result of this, many pregnant mothers experience injury, infections, infertility and even maternal death. The current abortion law in Thailand has been the focus of public and political debate a few times in the last decades, however those opposed to liberalization of the law have managed every time to let it remain as it is. What are the reasons for this and what is the view on abortion in Thai society ? The issue of abortion remains crucial in terms of Thai women‟s health and women‟s rights. It also demonstrates how women‟s bodies are used to represent and affirm the nation‟s cultural values. The government thinks liberalized abortion is a threat to Thai culture and the gendered narratives it creates about the nation.