[The dispute over Taiwan's genetic health law].
Population growth in Taiwan reached four hundred thousand births per year in the 1980s. Responding to the challenges presented by this significant increase in the population, the government implemented the Genetic Health Law in 1985 to improve quality of life and provide relief to those with large families. The Law promoted health awareness, birth control and the legalization of abortion. Although this policy has significantly and successfully lowered the birthrate over the past 20 years, abortion-related disputes have been on the rise in recent years. On side, womanfs rights activists argue that current Department of Health regulations that require the consent of a spouse or of parents, mandatory counseling and a deliberation period prior to obtaining an abortion violates a woman's autonomy. On the other side, religious groups appeal for a tightening of legal strictures in order to reduce the number of abortions as well as enforced counseling and a six-day deliberation period before an abortion could be permitted. As the Executive Yuan's deliberated over a proposed amendment to relevant laws, legislators were aggressively lobbied by both sides to support their respective positions. The polar positions stalemated a decision on the amendment by one vote during a Legislative Yuan vote on a draft amendment in January 2007. The author urges all parties to reconsider the proposed amendment rationally and hopes that the amendment can be passed in the near future.
Wu
Hsien-Ming
HM
College of Health Science, Asia University, Taipei, ROC. wuhm2@yahoo.com.tw
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001723:Birth Rate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011155:Population Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013624:Taiwan; D014933:Women's Rights