Overview of the legality and prevalence of abortions in Japan
Abortion in Japan is allowed under a term limit of 22 weeks for endangerment to the health of the pregnant woman, economic hardship, or rape.[1] Chapter XXIX of the Penal Code of Japan makes abortion de jure illegal in the country, but exceptions to the law are broad enough that it is widely accepted and practiced. Exceptions to the prohibition of abortion are regulated by the Maternal Health Protection Law that allows approved doctors to practice abortion on a woman if the pregnancy was the result of rape or if the continuation of the pregnancy endangers the maternal health because of physical or economic reasons. Anyone trying to practice abortion without the consent of the woman will be prosecuted, including the doctors. If a woman is married, consent from her spouse is also needed to approve abortions for socioeconomic reasons, although the rule doesn't apply if she is in a broken marriage, suffering abuse, or other domestic issues. Despite the partner's consent not being necessary for unmarried women and women who were impregnated by abusive partners or through rape, many doctors and medical institutions seek a signature from the man believed to have made the woman pregnant for fear of getting into legal trouble, rights advocates say.[2][3]
In April 2023, medical abortion was approved in Japan for pregnancies up to 9 weeks of gestation.[4] The Japanese health ministry approved an abortifacent from British pharmaceutical company Linepharma.[5] Women who have a medical abortion are required to stay in the hospital for the abortion to be confirmed by the prescribing physician. Any other person who aborts a fetus using abortifacients will be punished.[citation needed]
Abortions are not covered under Japanese insurance.[4] Surgical abortions can cost between 100,000 yen and 200,000 yen; the total cost of the abortion pill and a medical consultation would be around 100,000 yen, according to the NHK.[6]
^"母体保護法の施行について" [On Enforcement of the Maternal Health Act]. Act No. 122 of 25 September 1996(in Japanese). Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
^Nakagawa, Satoko (March 15, 2021). "No consent from spouse needed for abortion in broken marriages in Japan: ministry". The Mainichi.
^Osumi, Magdalena (Jun 28, 2022). "Abortion legal and apolitical in Japan, but cost and consent present barriers". The Japan Times.
^ ab"Japan approves abortion pill for the first time". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 2023-04-29. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^"Health ministry formally approves Japan's first abortion pill". The Japan Times. 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^Benoza, Kathleen (2023-04-21). "Japan panel approves nation's first abortion pill". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
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