Roe v Wade: Indian women fear ‘ripple effect’ after US abortion law struck down
- Overturning of the law has triggered a sense of ‘strong fear’ among women that India can also backtrack on its abortion law that was established in 1971
- Despite having legalised abortion services, a UN funded report found about 67 per cent of abortions in India are unsafe
Last year, Delhi-based homemaker Suchitra, who prefers to be identified only by her first name, went to a nearby clinic for an abortion. But the legal procedure was denied by the doctor, who insisted the abortion pills had to be prescribed in front of her husband – who was not in town.
Only after Suchitra’s husband, who was touring abroad for work, spoke to the doctor on a video call, did she authorise the pills.
On social media, when a section of people called India far more “progressive” than the US for allowing women to seek abortion, many women revealed the process was unfriendly and painful. Women said some doctors often label abortion seekers as “immoral”. Every year, hundreds of women are forced to seek special permission from the courts when they are denied services by the doctors.
