Nurse practitioners and midwives would be able to prescribe abortion medication under proposed laws introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Source: Canberra Times.
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith introduced the bill, which follows a decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to remove restrictions on who can prescribe the medication.
The bill would also require health professionals who have a conscientious objection to abortion to refer people to another health facility so they can receive an abortion in a timely manner.
The Government said this would bring the ACT in line with other states and territories.
The laws are being introduced following moves to expand the territory’s free abortion scheme.
Canberrans have been able to access free abortions for nearly a year but so far it’s only been at one location, the MSI Australia clinic in the city.
Last week, the Government announced this would be expanded to some general practices which provide medical abortions. The general practices taking part are the Watson General Practice and Canberra Family Planning in Tuggeranong.
FULL STORY
ACT to allow midwives, nurse practitioners to provide abortion medication (By Lucy Bladen, Canberra Times)
