Illegal in Thailand, it remains one of our society’s biggest taboos. We speak to Dr. Papakorn Mingmitpattanakul.

Is abortion illegal in Thailand?
Technically, yes, but we do have situations where the law allows for abortion. The first is if the birth puts the mother at physical risk, the second is if the baby faces abnormalities that will decrease its chances of survival and the third is if the abnormalities of the child will put the mother at risk mentally. Incest and rape are also grounds for abortion but they have to be reported to the police and go through the process of documenting the crime.

What are the major issues surrounding abortion in Thailand?
The major problem is the lack of knowledge. The government does not provide enough information about safe sex to the public, especially teenagers. If we are so concerned, we should spread the knowledge about safe sex and then abortions will be reduced.

How safe are illegal abortion clinics?
We don’t have official studies or figures. But some women do come to us after an illegal abortion. There are capable people working at these clinics, but it’s still dangerous. There are very few cases of deaths, but sometimes we do get women who suffer long term effects because their wombs have been so damaged or their fallopian tubes have been destroyed.

Can an abortion affect your future chances of bearing children?
You can get an infection from an abortion and have serious problems, sometimes you can get scars inside the womb or the fallopian tube can get blocked. Both problems can cause infertility.

How many times can a woman get an abortion?
Quantity is not important—it all depends on the quality of the procedure.

How can we reduce the social stigma around abortion in Thailand?
The most important thing is to increase people’s understanding of the topic, increase the levels of knowledge, education and information available.