OLVG hospital starts 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 that take place between the 22nd and 24th week of pregnancy. Until now, this medical procedure was very rare in the Netherlands and often only possible in specialized clinics.
Although abortion is legally permitted in the Netherlands up to 24 weeks, the procedure remains a sensitive topic in this late stage. The law states that an abortion after 22 weeks may only be performed if there are serious medical reasons, such as a fetal abnormality or a risk to the mother's health. With this new step, the OLVG aims to improve care for this specific group of patients.
The decision to offer this care was made carefully. The hospital emphasizes that an extensive medical and ethical review takes place for every request. Doctors and specialists assess each situation to determine whether a procedure is responsible and whether there are no other medical alternatives for the pregnant woman.
With this initiative, the OLVG hopes to lower the threshold for patients and increase expertise in the region. The hospital will closely monitor the results of the pilot to determine how care can best be shaped in the future. However, the discussion about late-term abortions remains a point of attention in Dutch society.