Jun 19, 2008 / 03:08 am
A High Court judge in New Zealand has questioned the legality of many abortions after Pro-Life New Zealand initiated a review of the country’s Abortion Supervisory Committee, which appoints the consultants who authorize abortions to take place.
According to Radio New Zealand, last week Justice Forrest Miller said there was reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions. In an April hearing, Right to Life New Zealand said that the supervisory committee was not supervising the work of certifying consultants as it should. The pro-life group argued that this neglect of duty had led to abortion on demand.
A registered practitioner may legally perform an abortion in New Zealand only if acting under a certificate approved by two consultants.
A Tuesday press release from Family Life International, New Zealand said the judge’s ruling comes at a time when New Zealand’s abortion numbers are approaching record levels. Statistics New Zealand has reported 450 more abortions in 2007 than in 2006, increasing by 2.5 percent from 17,930 to 18,380.