The impending birth of a child is meant to bring joy but a woman in China is considering an illegal abortion at 8 months because the pregnancy would result in a second child, violating China’s strict one-child policy and costing her husband his job, reports the Associated Press.
The 41-year-old woman, who is identified as Mrs Chen, told AP on Monday she felt pressure to abort her second child as her husband, known only as Mr Qi, reportedly works as a police officer in the couple’s Yunnan province and would likely lose his job if they ignored the government’s restrictive birth ban.
“I’m fearful,” Chen said. “If my husband believes I must abort the child, there’s nothing I can do.”
Mrs Chen, is reportedly uneasy about the public attention her case is getting. “I am worried he would lose his job even after we lose the baby, if the situation gets messy.”
Since news of the case broke there has been public uproar and on September 8, Chuxiong City Health and Family Planning Bureau in Yunnan issued an official statement in response.
The statement read: “It has been confirmed that Ms Chen is now more than 32 weeks into her pregnancy.
“In accordance with National Health and Family Planning Commission’s basic guidance… specifically in relation to the rule that “late-term abortion is strictly prohibited unless a medical requirement”, staff have already informed the couple of their rights and procedures.
“The Bureau has expressed that it respects the family’s wishes and the right to life.
“In addition, the Bureau will arrange obstetricians to help with Ms Chen’s pregnancy and offer guidance for the birth.”
Wen Xueping, a family planning official in Yunnan’s Chuxiong district also released a statement emphasising that “No way will we force them to have an abortion”. However the statement did go on to mention the couple would be held accountable for their actions – possibly alluding to the draconian punishment of firing Mr Qi from his public service job as speculated.
“But there also is the suspicion that the couple wants to avoid the punishment for breaking the rules by stirring up public interest,” Wen said.
China has retained its firm one-child policy since 1979 but did slightly ease its restrictions in recent years to allow more couples to have a second child. Some ethnic minorities are exempt from the rule as well as couples who are both only children themselves but it is reported neither Mrs Chen nor Mr Qi are culturally excused and both have siblings.
According to AP there was public outcry in China in 2012 when a 23-year-old woman in the northern province of Shaanxi was forced to have a late-term abortion.
Officials involved in that case was reprimanded and the Chinese government warned that anyone involved with late-term abortion would be punished.
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