By Azard Ali
April 18, 2016 – newsday.co.tt
A CENTRAL Trinidad doctor is being investigated by police for performing an abortion on a 16-year-old girl. Detectives from the Chaguanas CID said the doctor is facing imminent arrest as Section 56 of the Offences Against the Persons Act, states a person is guilty of an indictable offence if he or she uses an instrument to procure the miscarriage of any woman.
As police investigations continue, the teenage girl herself is also facing criminal prosecution, for what might be deemed in law as acting in a manner to procure her own miscarriage. Police investigations into abortion have been done in the past, but no one has ever been charged under the Section 56 Offences Against the Persons Act. According to a police report, the teenager was arrested last Wednesday after a report was made to the Chaguanas Police Station, that she had gone to a doctor’s office the day before to have the abortion done. According to the report, the girl who is from Caroni Savannah Road, was three months pregnant. After arrest, she was taken to the Chaguanas Police Station where, according to a police report, she told investigators about the circumstances of how she became pregnant.
Police told Newsday the matter of how she became pregnant, is being investigated as a separate case with a view to laying a charge against the man who had intercourse with her, as she is a minor in the eyes of the law and cannot give lawful consent to engage in sexual intercourse. District Medical Officer for Chaguanas, Dr Vikash Ramlogan, was notified and the girl was medically examined.
Police officers obtained a statement from the girl at the police station. Officers then notified attorneys of the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority and a duty counsel was assigned to the case.
The attorney arrived at the Chaguanas Station minutes before midnight on Friday and advised the girl of her rights and as well, the duties of the police in the pursuit of their investigations.
Another statement was recorded from the girl.
Police detectives subsequently visited the medical doctor’s office and interviewed him. Newsday learned that medical notes regarding the surgical procedure performed on the girl, were also examined. A procedure would have to be followed in order for the police to obtain the girl’s medical notes and that is to be done this week, sources said.
Newsday was told the baby that was aborted by the doctor, was four-months-old. The teenage girl has since been released from police custody, into the care of her parents. Newsday was told that investigations are being conducted further, in which the doctor is to be interviewed today and who, would be asked to give a statement.
A senior police source said that three charges are expected to be laid, firstly, against the girl for procuring her own abortion; secondly, against the doctor for facilitating the abortion; and thirdly, a charge against the person who had sexual intercourse with the girl, is to be laid as well.
The abortion charges are to be laid under Section 56, of the Offences Against the Persons Act, which states that every woman, being with a child, who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage, unlawfully administers to herself any poison, or, other noxious thing, or unlawfully uses any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like intent, or any person who, with intent to procure a miscarriage of any woman, whether she is or is not with child, unlawfully administers to her or causes to be taken by her any poison or other noxious thing, or unlawfully uses any instrument or other means with like intent, is liable to imprisonment for four years. Woman Police Constable Mohan is investigating.
If you are going to engage in a promiscuous lifestyle then there are condoms, birth control pills, morning after and the pull out method to prevent “unwanted pregnancies”.
If you do get pregnant and you and your lover are healthy people then a reasonable alternative is adoption. There are lots of childless couples who would not mind raising a child as their own in a loving environment. Sometimes a close relative may choose to the take the child. My sister got pregnant and she was under tremendous pressure to abort back in the day. She had no support, the man who did the dirty deed wanted the abortion. My nephew came into this world and today he is a grown very successful married young man.
Abortion is not an easy fix because it is cruel and several things can go wrong in the process of aborting. Plus enormous guild and regret accompanies abortion. I must say the government and church must provide better alternatives to young ladies facing this situation…. Of course the best is marriage and most religions subscribe to it under these circumstances.
Once God decides there is life; we cannot refuse it or with our free will we do it at our own peril. The spirit in us controls the life in us. Without that spirit there can be no life. That spirit is part of God’s spirit. We become evil spirited when we use our free will to suppress God’s spirit in us. Hence abortion is always a NO NO and this applies to all who partake in the process.
The indo community again. When will they understand that money is not all.
Govt confusion over abortion issue
Friday, April 22 2016
THERE was confusion yesterday in relation to Government’s policy position on abortion.
Given concerns on the impact of the Zika virus, calls have been made for reform of laws which arguably outlaw abortion. Last week, though, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the Government’s position on the matter was crystal clear.
“There is talk about abortion, but Government’s position remains crystal clear.” He said, “We support the law as it stands.” As far as legislation was concerned, he said, the laws have been changed to increase the fines from $500 to $3,500 for unkept lots . “That is the only legislative measure we are going to take,” he said.
But at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, Portof- Spain, Minister of Communications Maxie Cuffie said Deyalsingh had only stated the law as it stands would be enforced.
“Just to be clear, he stated that the current position on abortion is the law of the land,” Cuffie said.
“The Government will obey the law of the land. I don’t think he spoke about intentions. What he said is we will observe the law of the land and that’s the Government’s position.” Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, at the same briefing, said Cabinet’s deliberations were secret.
“I didn’t recall that the minister said what you attributed to him,” Al-Rawi said. “I know that you know very well that Cabinet discussions are secret and confidential.
You know that.” He was addressing Andy Johnson – former chief executive officer of Government Information Services under the People’s Partnership – who asked questions in relation to the matter.
However, Minister of Finance Colm Imbert, speaking at the same briefing, said, “No decision has been taken on that matter.”
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,226827.html