Swiss Voters Expand Abortion Law

By Liz Townsend

Beginning October 1, unborn babies less than 12 weeks old can be aborted in Switzerland as long as their mothers declare they are in a "state of distress" and are counseled by a doctor. The law, passed by Swiss voters June 2 by a three-to-one margin, also allows abortions after 12 weeks if the pregnancy poses a "grave danger to health," according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

As in the United States, the definition of "health" is very broad, and includes mental health.

The Roman Catholic Swiss bishops' conference condemned the new law, Reuters reported. "The fact that from now on it is possible to end unborn life during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy without punishment opens the door for further dangers to the respect of life both at the start -- extension of the period for abortion, removing of a fetus with possible handicaps, etc.-- and at its end-- euthanasia," the bishops said in a statement."

"The Swiss bishops appeal to the conscience of each individual," the statement continued. "The law is not morally acceptable."

The country's previous abortion law required two doctors' opinions that the abortion was needed to protect a woman's life or health. The law included jail time for violations, according to the Associated Press.

However, the law has been interpreted broadly in most regions (called cantons) of the country for many years. A loophole in the law allowed doctors to claim that the woman was in "imminent danger" and perform the abortion without a second opinion, as long as they notified authorities within 24 hours.

Only five doctors have been charged with violating the abortion law in the last nine years, and currently about 13,000 abortions are performed in Switzerland each year -- about one pregnancy in every eight, according to Agence France-Presse.

Pro-life groups also offered an alternate referendum, called "For the Mother and the Child," which would have banned abortion except for an "imminent and physical" danger to the mother's life, Agence France-Presse reported. However, this proposal was rejected by more than 80 percent of voters.