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The Procedures

The procedures are in the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act (CS&A Act) 1977 and amendments and they are administered by the Ministry of Justice, not Health. The Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) oversees this Act and reports directly to Parliament.

The ASC maintains a list of about 200 “certifying consultants”, doctors who must approve all requests for abortion and provide the legal certificates. Currently they are paid $135 for each consultation.

All abortions must be carried out in premises licensed by the ASC. Counselling services must be available but are not mandatory. (Some clinics require counselling as part of routine assessment.)

The woman first sees her own doctor who assesses her case and makes the appropriate referral to an operating surgeon and two certifying consultants, one of whom must have obstetric or gynaecological expertise. Some doctors will not make referrals and women may have to “shop around”.

If one of the certifying consultants does not agree that the woman has legal grounds for abortion, she must be referred to a third certifying consultant for another opinion. That opinion is meant to be final.


ALRANZ believes that because these procedures do not conform to best medical practice they are not respected and are not strictly adhered to.