The Wire

A 19 year old woman and her partner appeared in a Cairns court today charged with procuring an abortion. It’s understood she took a drug similar to to RU486, which is commonly given by Queensland doctors to induce a medical abortion. A friend of the woman appears to have brought the drug into Australia from the Ukraine. No-one knows who reported her to the police, but under Queensland law, police have no option but to press charges, unless a reasonable excuse can be given. The case has forced two Queensland doctors to resign for fear they too will be prosecuted. The woman charged could face severe penalties if found guilty.