Medical Experience with Abortion after Legalization in Western Europe

Abstract

Until now there has been no attempt in Western Europe to undertake a comprehensive international comparative study on the medical aspects of abortion care. One of the rare exceptions to the general lack of exchange of epidemiological data and clinical experience has been a conference on second-trimester abortions which was organized at the University of Leiden, Holland, in 1980 (Keirse et al., 1982). In addition, the late Christopher Tietze has included European epidemiological data on some medical aspects in his worldwide surveys on abortion (Tietze, 1983). This general lack of exchange of relevant medical information and experience is a serious problem which hampers the development and general acceptance of simple, inexpensive, convenient, and safe abortion procedures. One example can be found in southern Germany, where the local governments are still withholding outpatient services with the argument that those procedures would not be safe (Bericht, 1980; Ketting and van Praag, 1985). It is therefore absolutely necessary that initiatives be taken to organize the exchange of information systematically, preferably by means of an international journal.