Choice Ireland

Gulf Daily News, 21st February 2010

MANAMA: Pregnant women are putting their lives at risk by taking black market drugs to induce illegal abortions, says a leading doctor.

They are so desperate to abort their baby because of the social stigma attached to sex outside marriage that they are willing to pay as much as BD200 for the pills.

Women also risk being jailed for up to six months or fined a maximum of BD50 if caught, said Salmaniya Medical Complex obstetrics and gynaecology department acting chairwoman Dr A K Sandhu. She said up to 10 patients suspected of taking abortion-inducing drugs were reporting to health clinics every month.

The majority of pregnant women who seek illegal abortions are unmarried teenagers, she said.

"These pills should only be taken under medical supervision," Dr Sandhu told the GDN.