Young woman on trial for illegal abortion in Portugal

On Friday October 28 at 10.00 at the criminal court in Lisbon, Portugal (Rua Pinheiro Chagas) a young woman will stand trial for having an illegal abortion. The girl was 17 when she used Misoprostol to induce an abortion. After she started bleeding she went to the emergency room of the hospital Amadora-Sintra. The nurse on duty found remains of the Misoprostol tablets and instead of helping the girl he denounced her to the police. The police came immediately and the frightened girl confessed that she had tried to induce an abortion. The girl can get a 3 year jail sentence.

This trial might endanger women’s lives in Portugal even more as it will deter women from seeking emergency care in the future when they need medical attention after an illegal abortion.

For more information about the trial please contact :

Cecilia Costa (Women on Waves Portugal) +351-968650926