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Abortion in Singapore

Abortion was legalised in Singapore in 1969. Prior to this it was legal only when a woman’s health was endangered by the pregnancy. Currently, abortions are legal for citizens of Singapore, individuals with an issued work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, or individuals who have been a resident of Singapore for a minimum of four months.

History

Before 1967, abortion was illegal in Singapore unless it was necessary to save the life or protect the health of the pregnant woman.

In 1967 laws were extended to allow abortions in cases of rape, congenital foetal malformation, failed contraception, or conception with someone deemed unstable.

The Abortion Act 1969 was passed with a span of four years and the possibility of a fifth. It was passed in parliament with 32 for, 10 against, one abstention and 15 absentees. The purpose of the bill was to protect the health of women “in the interests of humanity and human progress,” and “to ensure that the children born are wanted children.” Under the bill, a termination of pregnancy could be granted under four circumstances: • The pregnancy threatened the health or life of the pregnant woman. • The woman’s economic and family circumstances would not be suitable for a child. • The child, if born, may suffer from health issues or disability. • The pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. Consent was required to terminate a pregnancy if the woman in question was unmarried and under 18. This bill came into effect on the 20th March 1970.

The Abortion Act of 1974, passed to replace the expired act from 1969, was indefinite. The original bill was altered rather than rewritten. The five circumstances in which a termination of pregnancy would be granted were removed, allowing the treatment on request. Also, the patient was the only person required to give consent for the procedure to go ahead. This bill closely resembles the Termination of Pregnancy Act put in place in 1985.

In 1994, Singapore was one of 179 members who signed the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action. This programme, among other demands, called for the liberalisation of abortion laws.

(More information on abortion rights history in Singapore)

Abortion Laws

According to the Termination of Pregnancy Act, any woman who is a citizen of Singapore, holds a work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, or has resided in Singapore for over four months is permitted to undergo a termination of pregnancy. This also applies for women whose spouse fulfils these criteria. These criteria do not apply to “any treatment to terminate pregnancy which is immediately necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman.” The procedure must be undertaken by an authorised medical practitioner in an approved institution with written consent from the patient. Breaches of these guidelines will result in a fine of up to $3000, three years imprisonment, or both.

Unless under special circumstances, the pregnancy may not be terminated if it is older than 24 weeks, unless it will protect the life or health of the pregnant woman. If the pregnancy is between 16 and 24 weeks the treatment must be carried out by an authorised medical practitioner with the correct qualifications.

If a patient is undergoing a non-surgical treatment it is not required that the medical practitioner have qualification or that the process be undertaken in an approved institution. There is no consent required for a termination of pregnancy other than that of the pregnant woman. This remains true for minors.

Any person found guilty of coercing or intimidating a woman against her will into terminating a pregnancy will be subject to a fine of up to $3000, three years imprisonment, or both. Conscientious objection is permitted for any member of the treatment process. This is overridden, however, when the health of the patient is at risk. The information surrounding a termination of pregnancy may not be shared without the permission of the patient.

It is required that all women undertaking a termination of pregnancy participate in pre- and post-abortion counselling. After this counselling, they must wait 48 hours before commencing treatment.

Statistics

The Termination of Pregnancy Act guidelines require that all medical practitioners who complete a termination of a pregnancy must submit the details of the patient and the treatment to the Director of Medical Services.

In 1970, when treatment became more available, there were 1913 legal abortions carried out. This rose to 12873 in the next five years.   This number reached its peak in 1985 with 23512 legal abortions. The introduction of pre-abortion counselling regulated these numbers to be between 11482 and 12318 from 2003 to now.   In 2016 there were 7217 legal abortions carried out.

Between 1968 and 1970, Singapore’s mortality rate as a result of abortion was 3.8%, however, from 1979 to 1983 it fell to 0.  Between 1968 to 1976 it was the most common cause of maternal deaths.

A 1985 study found that between 1970 and 1983 the proportion of abortions explained by economic limits or existing family size fell from 90% to 39%. This remained the most common reason. Other reasons included being unmarried, domestic problems, and least common at a maximum of 4% was failed contraception.  The same study found that the rate of repeat abortions rose from 5.5% in 1970 to 35.3% in 1983.

A study in 2002 found that the average age of women presenting for abortion was 29.6 years old.  It also found that 75.5% of these women were married and 58.3% had a secondary school education.

Public Opinion

(Information from studies showing how the public has reacted to abortion laws/statistics over time)

Organisations

(A list of important organisations related to abortion)