International Law
Australian Teen Criminally Charged Over Alleged Self-Induced Abortion
In the first such prosecution in over 50 years, a 19-year-old Australian woman has been criminally charged for allegedly using a Chinese version of the RU486 morning-after drug to perform a home abortion on herself.
If convicted, Tegan Leach could be sentenced to as much as seven years in prison. Her 21-year-old boyfriend, who has been charged with supplying her with the drugs for the abortion, faces as much as a three-year term, if convicted, reports the London Times.
Abortion is illegal in much of Australia, the newspaper explains, and although doctors are allowed to prescribe RU486 it is considered risky to do so because the rules for appropriate use are unclear.
