CHANGES to Jersey’s abortion legislation that would remove the requirement for patients to be “distressed” in order to terminate a pregnancy are on track to be lodged by the end of the year.
Proposed update to Jersey’s Termination of Pregnancy Law were set out in a consultation earlier this year, with the Health Minister pledging to lodge the new legislation before the end of 2025.
Follow queries from the JEP, a government spokesperson confirmed the law is in the drafting process, and the aim is still to have it lodged before the end of the year.
If approved, the new law would make it legal for Islanders to have an abortion for any reason up to 21 weeks and six days of pregnancy, but these later-term abortions will not be provided on the Island – except in urgent medical cases.
It would also introduce the ability to create safe access zones around termination clinics to protect users from abuse and harassment.
Under the current law, Islanders have to consult two doctors before having an abortion, even in early pregnancy.
But if legislative changes are approved, only one consultation with a healthcare professional will be required – and it could be with a nurse or midwife. Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary medication.
