tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986784356831164165.post9037419509985936668..comments2023-10-12T20:51:28.412+13:00Comments on Rachel Rayner: The Decriminalisation of Abortion and Political WillRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16117849132310013468noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986784356831164165.post-78396991788169172092013-05-10T10:29:55.911+12:002013-05-10T10:29:55.911+12:00Thanks for that - a more substantive answer than ...Thanks for that - a more substantive answer than my wannabe language-nerd question deserved!Greg Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06661985258561000968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986784356831164165.post-24101707354224291282013-05-10T10:01:54.941+12:002013-05-10T10:01:54.941+12:00First up, we can't really compare a health pro...First up, we can't really compare a health procedure with controlled substance restrictions. <br /><br />Abortion needs to be decriminalised because it is in the crimes act. We want to take it out of the crimes act: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/whole.html#DLM329356 (sections 182 - 187A). If it is not in the crimes act it won't be a crime anymore, and there will be no restrictions around the mental health stuff exceptions and so on.<br /> <br />The certifying consultant stuff is in the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1977/0112/latest/whole.html#DLM2992809 (sections 10-46). It could probably use a tidy up, but that would have to be after it is removed from the crimes act because it is describes when abortion is not a crime (that where all the stuff about two certifying consultants is specified).<br /> <br />The base line of the law right now is that abortion is a crime. The base line for most other health procedures is that they are not a crime. (Is there anywhere in NZ legislation that dictates when heart surgery is allowed?) We need to bring abortion into line with other health procedures, or at least into line with the "contraceptive" part of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act, which is actually pretty minimal.<br /><br />(Shout out to @Rageaholic_ for helping me answer this question!)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16117849132310013468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986784356831164165.post-90566251943880821672013-05-10T08:50:55.553+12:002013-05-10T08:50:55.553+12:00Why do we talk about decriminalisation instead of ...Why do we talk about decriminalisation instead of legalisation? I sort of understand the difference in the context of cannibas, but that doesn't seem to help me here.Greg Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06661985258561000968noreply@blogger.com