OLVG starts pilot for late-term abortions between 22 and 24 weeks
The OLVG hospital in Amsterdam has started a pilot program for performing late-term abortions. This concerns pregnancy terminations between the 22nd and 24th week. Although this medical procedure is legally permitted in the Netherlands, it remains a sensitive subject in society.
Until now, it was often difficult for women in this specific stage of their pregnancy to find care in the Netherlands. Many hospitals did not perform these procedures, which sometimes forced women to travel abroad for help. With this pilot, OLVG aims to improve care for this group of patients and make it more accessible.
The decision to terminate a pregnancy in this late stage is always made after careful medical consultation. Often, there are serious medical complications involving the fetus or the mother. The hospital emphasizes that for every request, an extensive ethical and medical assessment is conducted by a specialized team.
The medical community and politicians are closely monitoring the pilot at OLVG. With this initiative, the hospital hopes to provide more clarity regarding the implementation of this complex care. The results of the pilot will be evaluated in the future to determine whether this care can be made more widely available in other Dutch hospitals.