Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512911
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 DECEMBER 2023 6 INTERVIEW 'Bill 28 protects doctors, not women' THE abortion amendments passed by parliament offer no protection to women and only protect doctors in circumstances where an abortion is necessary, says pro- choice activist Natalie Psaila. Psaila is a specialist in family medicine and co-founded the NGO Doctors for Choice, an advocacy group. Just a couple of weeks ago she was included in the BBC top 100 list of the most influential women. As I sit with her for this interview, she speaks of how she was surprised and hon- oured to have made it to the top 100 list. "Despite knowing about the nomination, confirmation came as a surprise on the day of the announcement," she tells me. On the government's amendment to Malta's abortion laws, known as Bill 28, which was approved unanimously by par- liament, Psaila said it was disappointing to see a watered-down version of the bill being passed months after its announce- ment. "Bill 28 does not protect women, it protects doctors," she says bluntly. Psaila points out that the new law intro- duces cumbersome requirements, man- dating the involvement of three doctors with specific specialties before a proce- dure can be carried out. This, according to Psaila, can pose a challenge, and possibly threaten a wom- an's life when she's at risk. Psaila spoke about the abortion doula service that she set up with Prof. Isabel Stabile. The helpline offers support to women before, during and after under- going an abortion. Psaila says she speaks to women everyday through the helpline, in the hopes of preventing complications throughout the procedure. While the government amended its abortion law, its sexual health policy is still to be updated. Psaila suggests that sexual and reproductive health is not a high pri- ority for policymakers, otherwise the pol- icy would have been drafted a long time ago. However, she hopes that the policy will be an improvement on the current one, which was drafted in 2010. Psaila also highlights the importance of a comprehensive sex education, com- bined with free access to contraception, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and abor- tions. She authored a book on sex education targeted at 10- to 13-year olds, empha- sising its potential to prevent unwanted pregnancies. However, she said the book has not been widely adopted in schools, with the Education Department advising teachers against using it. Natalie Psaila is a doctor and was recently included in the BBC's top 100 list of the most inf luential women for helping women who need information and advice on abortion. Here she sits down with NICOLE MEILAK to talk about abortion, sexual health and education. Psaila highlights the importance of a comprehensive sex education, combined with free access to contraception, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and abortions