Question On Notice No. 2106 asked in the Legislative Council on 7 May 2019 by Hon Nick Goiran
Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to question on notice 1890 answered on 4 April 2019, and I ask:
(a) what were the five most common reasons for the 86 approvals provided by the Ministerial Panel for abortions at 20 weeks or later; and
(b) what were the five most common reasons for the 83 induced abortions at 20 weeks gestation or later?
Answered on 12 June 2019
I am advised:
(a) Approval of termination of pregnancy by the Ministerial Panel after 20 weeks of gestation is for severe maternal and/or fetal conditions. The cases approved are complex and often involve multiple organ defects in the fetus or a complex of both maternal and fetal issues. The decision to approve a termination weighs the overall situation for the mother and fetus and is rarely based on a single issue. The following list is compiled in terms of the most common reasons.
- Primary maternal conditions
- Primary fetal conditions
- Neurological
- Cardiac
- Chromosomal
- Complex other
(b) For the period January to December 2018, the five most common reasons for the 83 induced abortions at 20 weeks gestation or later were
- Fetal chromosomal anomalies
- Maternal conditions
- Fetal cardiac anomalies
- Fetal central nervous system anomalies
- Other rare fetal conditions