Unpacking 'On Her Terms'.

On Her Terms

On Her Terms is a Territory wide campaign that aims to inform all Territorians about matters relating to the Northern Territory (NT) Medical Services Act, particularly in relation to termination of pregnancy and the broadening of access to the abortion drug RU486. On Her Terms is advocating for changes to the NT Medical Services Act to allow doctors to legally prescribe RU486 for the termination of pregnancy. To achieve this aim On Her Terms uses an online presence through social and digital media, as well as community engagement and education, and political lobbying.

NT Medical Services Act

Under current NT legislation, the termination of pregnancy can only be done surgically, in a hospital and with a specialist doctor. Two doctors must agree that a termination of pregnancy procedure is needed. This law is linked to the Criminal Code.

Definition

Termination of pregnancy, also referred to as abortion, is very common. Around 1,000 women end their pregnancies every year in the NT and about 4,000 babies are born.

Surgical termination of pregnancy is commonly provided up to 12 weeks gestation, performed in a hospital and usually requires a general anaesthetic.

Medical termination of pregnancy can be provided up to 9 weeks gestation. A woman is required to see a health care provider who examines her. If the procedure is considered necessary, the woman is counselled, and given the medical pills called RU486 (mifepristone and misoprostol). This drug has been available in other countries, including France, Sweden and the United Kingdom, for more than 20 years. RU486 has been on the pharmaceutical benefit scheme since 2013. It is also on the World Health Organization’s list of ‘Essential Medicines’.

Our response

On Her Terms believes the current NT Medical Services Act is outdated. RU486 has been available in Australia since 2006. The NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia where it is illegal to prescribe RU486 for termination of pregnancy.

The current alternative to RU486 is surgical termination of pregnancy, which must be performed in a hospital in Darwin or Alice Springs. This restricts access for 1 in 4 NT women who live outside of these regions. It also unfairly impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are more likely to live in remote parts of the Northern Territory.

On Her Terms believes that accredited doctors, including General Practitioners, are better placed to provide the comprehensive care required for women who choose to terminate their pregnancy, through the provision of accessible, timely and non-threatening health care.

Recommendations

1. That all reference to termination of pregnancy or abortion in any form be removed from the Criminal Code Act.

2. That the Medical Services Act be amended to clarify that medical termination of pregnancy, including RU486, can be administered by appropriately qualified medical practitioners (including accredited general practitioners) in the Northern Territory, including outside of a hospital setting.

3. That the laws be amended so that a minor’s capacity to give consent be assessed by an appropriately qualified medical practitioner and if capable, give consent for termination. If deemed incapable of providing such consent only one person having authority in law be sufficient to provide consent on behalf of the minor.

4. That the laws be amended to ensure doctors who have a conscientious objection to termination refer a woman to a medical practitioner who does not hold such an objection as soon as practicable.

5. That the Medical Services Act be amended to only require the approval of one medical practitioner to approve termination of pregnancy up to the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and a woman should not be required to justify that termination is necessary to prevent physical and mental harm to herself