The law remains… as long as it has a positive impact on people in society. But if it is the opposite, there should be changes. Thailand has several factors that support the amendment of abortion laws.
Firstly:
Thailand has excellent medical advancements, with pregnancy termination technology using medication listed in the national essential drug list, comparable to other civilized countries. However, women facing problems have to resort to buying illegal abortion pills online, resulting in Thailand facing one of the highest maternal mortality rates from pregnancy in the world. The main causes are hemorrhage and sepsis.
Secondly:
Section 301 forces women to solve problems secretly, not daring to reveal themselves to seek consultation or health services. This is because the decision to terminate a pregnancy implies a violation of criminal law regarding abortion, risking prosecution. They have to turn to illegal services, such as receiving services at illegal clinics or buying pills from the internet.
Thirdly:
Doctors providing legal abortion services are extorted and accused under Section 302, even though the law allows doctors to terminate pregnancies under Section 305. However, the law fails to enforce against those selling abortion pills online or those running illegal abortion clinics. This negatively impacts the health service system and the morale of health service providers who focus on preventing injury and loss of life from unsafe abortions.
Lastly:
The amendment of abortion laws has become a global trend, with countries gradually adjusting to resolve issues arising from unsafe abortions. Even Ireland, which had strict abortion laws prohibiting abortion in all cases, has amended its laws to allow women to make decisions regarding their own pregnancies.