Source:   Fiji Daily Post; March 23, 2003

Fiji Woman Dies Following Botched Abortion

Suva, Fiji -- A prominent Suva doctor is in police custody after he carried out an abortion on a young woman who later died. The woman was allegedly left unattended overnight, following the botched abortion.

Acting Police Commissioner Sada Nand yesterday confirmed yesterday the doctor had been in police custody from Saturday afternoon and was being questioned. "All I can tell you at the moment is the doctor is in custody and is still being questioned.

"No other details can be released at the moment," he said.

It is understood the doctor had performed the abortion on Friday night and left the young woman unattended for the night. Upon arriving at work the next morning, staff from the surgery found the university student not breathing, and called the doctor to investigate.

Police were then called to the facility and the girl was taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed her death. Police are awaiting the post mortem result before they can press charges.

A local lawyer yesterday said the doctor could be charged for negligence to murder.

Fiji Medical Association president Mary Schramm said she had not heard of the case but said the association supported abortion. She said abortions are only legal if there is a serious risk to life, individual's life or for physical and mental health of women -- which could be used to justify the legality of essentially any abortion.

Schramm said between 1992 to 1993 there was a move to review the laws to make abortion more clearly legal and more available.