Family Planning NT Medical Director Dr Stefanie Pender says reforms in 2021 for abortions in the NT were critical changes and rolling it back would make it harder for people to access terminations being essential healthcare services

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know that the COLP had tabled a petition in
the Northern Territory Parliament last week. It was signed by
more than two thousand people calling for abortion rights to
be repealed in the Northern Territory. The petition seeks to
overturn reforms from twenty twenty one which brought to which
brought the Northern Territory in line with other jurisdictions by
removing the need for an assessment by a second doctor

(00:21):
up to twenty four weeks gestation, allowing late term abortions
if deemed appropriate by multiple practitioners. Now joining me on
the show to explain the current processes around terminations is
Family Planning NTS Doctor Stephanie Pender. Good morning to you,
doctor Pender.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Katie, thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now,
are the current abortion laws in the Northern Territory adequate?
In your opinion?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
From a healthest perspective, I think the twenty twenty one
laws were really a critical step in increasing access to
say and timely abortion care and the NT and rolling
this back would make it harder for people to access
an essential healthcare, especially in rural remote services and I
think that's a real concern for patients and providers.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, that's something you know, my brain hadn't even thought of,
is what it might be like. Actually, if you are
living in a more of a remote location, it would
be incredibly difficult. I mean, so tell me what you know,
what was the situation for women seeking a termination before
those twenty twenty one changes.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
I cantrently don't comment on that. I'm not involved in
a later term abortions, but there used to be a
law where two doctors would have to sign off on
a late term abortion. Now below twenty four weeks that
only requires one doctor.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
So I mean, would you be concerned if the laws
were changed reverting back to the way that they were previously.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, I would be concerned. I think abortion is a
really essential health care service and the people that come
in seeking abortion don't do it lightly and do so
for a range of reasons. And I think it's a
really important service for human rights and we need to
respect that.

Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, look, I agree with you, and I find it
you know, this is my opinion obviously, not yours. I
find it a bit odd that we're looking at going
backwards in this space. No, woman makes this decision lightly.
In fact, I would you know, I would argue that
it's a really really tough decision for somebody to make
or to go down this path. Doctor, from your from

(02:34):
your experience, do you have many patients that do come in,
or many women that come in seeking a later term
abortion or is it generally much earlier in the piece?

Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's generally much earlier in the piece. We know that
it's about ninety two percent of women that seek abortion
the first sort of twelve weeks of pregnancy, and they
do so for a range of reasons and a range
of backgrounds. Most late term abortions are for a range
of very difficult reasons. Sometimes that can be because fetal

(03:08):
abnormalities are diagnosed. A woman can be in really difficult
circumstances that might have mental or physical health problems, which
means it's unsafe to continue a pregnancy. They might be
experiencing severe domestic violence, trauma, reproductive coersion, or just have
had really difficult to be accessing health care services up

(03:28):
to that point.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Yeah. Do you think it's a bit of a firthy
that you know, some people believe that, you know, this
is just women making a lifestyle choice.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
Look, I respect that people hold a range of different
personal beliefs. However, as a doctor, my role is to
support a patient in what they need and often that
may be ending a pregnancies judgment and that is supportive
and that supports someone to live the best version of
their life they can.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
Yeah, look, I know, I know it's a tough, you
know topic I think as well for people to discuss,
but I do think it's really important that women are
able to access, you know, like you've said, a healthcare
service or a medical service that is you know, that's required.
It's not a decision that's taken lightly. Absolutely, I really
appreciate you having a chat with us this morning. Thank

(04:20):
you very much, Doctor Penda, thanks so much, and we'll
chat to you again soon. Thank you.