Abortion+Views+in+Denmark

=Abortion Views in Denmark (Midwives)= __Law__ Abortion- Abortion in Denmark was legalized with the passing of Law No. 350 in 1973. (Rasch, Weinlandt, & Knudsen, 2002). This law ensured the right of abortion to females over the age of eighteen, before the end of the first trimester, at no cost to the individual. However, exceptions can be granted in cases of pregnancy as the result of a crime, or where there is a threat to the life of the mother, or the child. (Rasch et. al. 2002). A notable distinction here is that threat to the life of the child includes being born to a mother who is unable to financially or emotionally provide for the child. ( Christiensen, Christensen, & Petersen, 2013 ).

For this exception to be made a women is required to meet with a committee of local professionals including a gynecologist, psychiatrist, and a professional from either the legal or educational field (Christiensen et. al. 2013). These professional sit and talk with the women about her emotional state, relationship status, educational goals, among a variety of other topics to assess where the woman is in her life. If together the committee finds that this woman is not able to handle the responsibilities of parenthood, she is allowed to interrupt her pregnancy.

__Contraceptives and Legal Effects on Culture__ Part of Denmark's medical provisions include contraceptives. Throughout the 90's roughly 70% of women child bearing age were on contraceptives.(Rasch, Weinlandt, & Knudsen, 2002). While there were still unexpected pregnancies, these pregnancies were not blamed on the users. Instead, the culture of Denmark reflects that even responsible people experience failures in their birth control methods. By shifting the focus from irresponsibility and the sex life of the user, to the understanding that sometimes contraceptives fail it continues a culture of support.

Similarly, since the passing of Law No. 350 there has been a decrease in the number of abortions (Rasch et. al. 2002 ). Before this bill there were there were roughly 24 abortion per everything thousand pregnancies. By 2002, that number has dropped to only 14 per every thousand pregnancies. Within that number, the woman applying for abortions were generally people below the age of 25, single women, or women who already had two or more children (Rasch et. al. 2002). Rasch (2002) also notes that abortion also coincides with being unemployed, underemployed, or being below a certain education level.

__Prenatal Testing Services__ Prenatal Testing is available to people who are pregnant to detect fetal abnormalities that may cause harm to the child and to test for disabilities (Udal & Norup, 2013). The purpose of early detection is to help women and families make informed decisions about carrying their pregnancy to term. These services are public funded and offered to anyone who is pregnant (Udal & Norup, 2013). While most agree with this service, they find a slippery slope in logic. There is a division between half the population that worry PNT will lead to a eugenics movement. That is, if people find out they're pregnant with a child who may have Down's Syndrome a person may elect for an abortion. As previously stated, one case that can be made for an interruption of pregnancy is financial strain, which is common in families with a child with disabilities. = = =Midwifery=

Midwives are medical professionals that assist in the birthing process. They offer a more holistic approach and view birth as a natural even that a person needs to be guided through (Christiensen et. al. 2013 ). This is in contrast to the medicalization of labor and delivery which puts the doctor as the focus instead of the parent. Due to difference is law and culture, the people of Denmark also experience a different level of care through the abortion process (Christiensen et. al. 2013). Instead of shame, embarrassment, and scare tactics that seem to plague American abortions, medical providers in Denmark take a different approach.

As stated, midwives take a different approach to pregnancy and chid birth. Within this caring science, some professionals have worked with women getting abortions. This includes abortions to couples whose child would have suffered from debilitating birth defects, spontaneous miscarriages, and fetal abnormalities (Christiensen et. al. 2013). In these instances, parent's were in the process of preparing for their new lives with their child. Midwives recognize this trauma and do sever things to show respect for these clients. To help with healing, parents are allowed to pose for pictures with their babies, take hand and foot prints, along with other varying activities. Midwives state that at first this practice seemed morbid, but that by acknowledging and respecting the feelings of the parents in their time of grief, it helps similarly. One midwife stated "these people become parents, just to a dead child" (Christiensen et. al. 2013).

Another area of dissatisfaction in this field is how frequently they can be required to compromise their ethics. The emotional aspects of dealing in this type of work, and the effects of watching the pain and grief of young families were not discussed, but the emotional frustration of working within the medical community was. Many midwives discussed the dissatisfaction with doctor's perception that they are merely auxiliary staff. Similarly, they expressed the frustrations of working within the confines of the doctor's plan, especially when the culture of professions is so drastically different. (Christiensen et. al. 2013). Within this, midwives worry that doctor's have preconceived ideas about patients and childhood outcomes and bring these notions into meetings with parents. Midwives have stated they fear that because the doctor already has an idea, that sways patients in their decision making, even if it isn't in their best interest (Christiensen et. al. 2013).

Sources Christiensen, A. V., Christensen, A. H., & Petersson. (2013). Faced with a dilemma: Danish midwives’ experiences with and attitudes towards late termination of pregnancy. //Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences//. 27; 913–920 Rasch, V., Wienlandt, H., & Knudsen, L. (2002). Living conditions, contraceptive use and the choice of induced abortion among pregnant women in Denmark. //Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.// 30: 293-299 Uldall, S., & Norup, M. (2013). Attitudes among Danes toward prenatal testing and termination of pregnancy. ACTA Obstetricia et Gynecological Scandinavia. 92:230–233.