Right to terminate a pregnancy in Malta: the case of Andrea Prudente
30.6.2022
Question for written answer E-002367/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Camilla Laureti (S&D), Giuliano Pisapia (S&D), Irene Tinagli (S&D), Pierfrancesco Majorino (S&D), Giuseppe Ferrandino (S&D)
A 38-year-old US woman almost died of pregnancy complications in Malta, after Maltese doctors refused to perform an abortion.
Andrea Prudente travelled to Malta in early June for a holiday. A few days after she arrived, she started bleeding and her waters broke. In hospital, she was told that the placenta was partially detached and the foetus would not survive.
Prudente could have developed a deadly infection as a result of these complications. However, as the foetus’ heart was still beating, the doctors refused to terminate the pregnancy, in accordance with Maltese law, although the foetus had no chance of survival outside the womb. The woman was subsequently granted an authorisation for a transfer to Spain, where she was given the treatment she needed.
This is not the first time that this Maltese law has almost cost a woman her life.
In the light of this:
- 1.What steps is the Commission going to take to ensure that access to a pregnancy termination is recognised as a human right in all Member States?
- 2.Given that Malta’s Commissioner, Helena Dalli, is responsible for gender equality and that free access to abortion is essential to achieving that goal, what is it doing to secure this fundamental right for women?