Professor Eva Pajkrt:

I believe that abortion is a very safe procedure. There are different methods. There are the pills and the surgical methods. It has been found that in the surgical procedure we have to dilate the cervix a little bit. Now, more and more, they prep the cervix first with medication and then they perform the surgical procedure. All of these procedures are relatively safe. Of course, if the woman has progressed a little bit later in gestation, there are complications. This issue is addressed in the annual report. This complication mainly has to do with the fact that if the gestation is further along, say at 20 weeks, there is a 20% chance that the placenta will be retained. The woman would have to go to the emergency room to have the placenta removed. It is not very clear to hospitals how to register that. It registers as a complication when in fact it is just the procedure and how it is. I believe that abortion is a relatively safe procedure. To my knowledge I do not believe we have had any maternal deaths from the procedure.