By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
IASI, ROMANIA, June 24, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Romanian officials are seeking to obtain an abortion for an 11-year-old girl after a hospital ethics committee refused to perform the procedure, according to news reports.
The hospital's committee issued the ruling based on the fact that the girl, who was allegedly raped by her uncle, is more than 14 weeks pregnant. According to the law, abortions may not be performed after that period.
"According to the penal code, after the 14th week of pregnancy, termination is only permitted if the mother's life is endangered or if the fetus suffers from malformation," said a spokesman for the Cuza Voda hospital. He added that the committee found the girl's pregnancy to be "proceeding naturally" and therefore would not allow an abortion, according to the French Press Agency
However, according to the Romanian publication Gandul, there are provisions in Romanian law allowing later term abortions in cases of "necessity". The newspaper reports that government authorities are investigating the case and intend to initiate proceedings to overturn the hospital's decision.
The hospital's spokesman, Vica Todosiciuc, contradicted Gandul's claim, stating that the law does not allow for exceptions.
Contact Information:
Embassy of Romania in the United States
1607 23rd Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
USA
Phone: 202-332.4846
202-332.4848
Fax: 202- 232. 4748
Email: Ambassador@roembus.org
Embassy of Romania in Canada
655 Rideau Street , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6A3
Telephone (613) 789-3709, -5345, -4037, -4038
Fax (613) 789-4365
romania@romanian-embassy.com
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Romania/romania1.html
