Rowlands Sam
Department of Medical Science & Public Health, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.
Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2025 Apr;30(2):104-106. doi: 10.1080/13625187.2024.2434844. Epub 2024 Dec 11.
Spousal authorisation for abortion (SA) is in direct conflict with the right to bodily autonomy. The World Health Organisation guideline on abortion specifically recommends that abortion should be available on request without third-party authorisation. The objectives of this study were to: a) determine which countries insist by law on SA, b) describe shared characteristics of these countries, c) assess the impact of such legislation on access to abortion and d) evaluate the chances of repeal of such laws.
Interrogation of known databases on global abortion laws. Grouping of countries with SA laws according to their characteristics. A literature review of material on how mandatory SA relates to reproductive rights.
Fifteen countries were found to require SA. Nine of these countries have low freedom and democracy scores. Three South Eastern Asian countries, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, have high freedom and democracy scores and no dominant religion. Broader studies on third-party authorisation for abortion show delayed access to abortion and emphasise the general principle that it is the healthcare seeker alone whose consent should be required for a health intervention. A qualitative study from Türkiye showed specifically how SA requirements could impair access to abortion.
Twelve of the countries do not appear to have the necessary government or societal conditions necessary for abortion law modernisation in the near future. In contrast, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are prime candidates for immediate liberalisation of their abortion laws.
配偶对堕胎的授权（SA）与身体自主权直接冲突。世界卫生组织关于堕胎的指南特别建议，应根据请求提供堕胎服务，无需第三方授权。本研究的目的是：a）确定哪些国家法律要求配偶授权，b）描述这些国家的共同特征，c）评估此类立法对堕胎服务可及性的影响，d）评估废除此类法律的可能性。
查询全球堕胎法律的已知数据库。根据其特征对有配偶授权法律的国家进行分组。对关于强制配偶授权与生殖权利关系的材料进行文献综述。
发现有15个国家要求配偶授权。其中9个国家的自由和民主得分较低。三个东南亚国家、日本、韩国和台湾地区，自由和民主得分较高且没有占主导地位的宗教。关于堕胎第三方授权的更广泛研究表明，堕胎服务的获取会延迟，并强调一般原则，即健康干预仅应要求寻求医疗服务者本人同意。来自土耳其的一项定性研究具体表明了配偶授权要求如何会损害堕胎服务的可及性。
其中12个国家在近期似乎没有实现堕胎法律现代化所需的必要政府或社会条件。相比之下，日本、韩国和台湾地区是立即放宽堕胎法律的主要候选对象。
