Doctor gets two years for illegal abortions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced an
\nobstetrician to two years in jail and fined him Rp 3 million
\n(US$272) on Monday for illegally aborting an average of 10 to 15
\nbabies a day.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Abas Sumantri said the doctor, Budiman, 51,
\nwas guilty of violating Article 15 of Health Law No. 23\/1993,
\nwhich states that an abortion is legal only if it is necessary to
\nsave the life of the mother or the baby.<\/p>\n
According to Article 80 (1) of the law, those found guilty of
\ncarrying out illegal abortions can receive a maximum punishment
\nof 15 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 500 million.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant also violated the medical code of ethics and
\nsocial and religious values,\" Abas said.<\/p>\n
The obstetrician, however, was still needed by Tangerang
\nGeneral Hospital, where the defendant used to work, he added.<\/p>\n
Abas said the defendant conducted illegal abortions at the
\nHerlina and Amalia clinics in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta, for
\nabout nine years.<\/p>\n
Budiman reportedly admitted that his patients were both
\nhousewives who did not wish to have a baby and women who had
\nbecome pregnant out of wedlock. Most were aged between 20 and 40.<\/p>\n
Budiman remained quiet when the verdict was given. Many of his
\nrelatives, however, burst into tears.<\/p>\n
Both prosecutor Andi Tjudai and Budiman's lawyers are
\nconsidering whether to appeal the judge's decision.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor had asked the court in his indictment to
\nsentence the obstetrician to six years in jail.<\/p>\n
Andi said several of Budiman's abortion patients had testified
\nthat the doctor had knowingly carried out their abortions
\nillegally.<\/p>\n
Budiman reportedly received 60 percent of the abortion fees,
\nwhile the clinic's owners took in the remaining 40 percent.<\/p>\n
Patients paid between Rp 150,000 and Rp 1 million, depending
\non how advanced the pregnancy was, she said.<\/p>\n
One of Budiman's lawyers, Petrus Balapattyona, said the
\nsentence was too severe.<\/p>\n
\"The sentence sets a dangerous precedent since it will
\ndiscourage doctors from becoming obstetricians for fear they
\ncould be charged as criminals,\" Petrus said.<\/p>\n
Budiman and another doctor, identified as Jaya Lelana, were
\namong 13 suspects in illegal abortion cases which dominated media
\nheadlines late last year.<\/p>\n
The suspects were apprehended by police following the
\ndiscovery of the remains of 11 babies and fetuses disposed of in
\nplastic bags at a garbage dump in Warakas, North Jakarta, last
\nNovember.<\/p>\n
Doctor Jaya is facing a military tribunal.<\/p>\n
The owner of Amalia Clinic, identified as Kurniasih, alias
\nCicih, has already been sentenced by the same court to 20 months
\nin jail. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/doctor-gets-two-years-for-illegal-abortions-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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