{"id":249895,"date":"2021-07-27T08:44:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-27T13:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=249895"},"modified":"2021-07-26T19:58:14","modified_gmt":"2021-07-27T00:58:14","slug":"buddhist-beliefs-doctors-thailand-refuse-abortions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/buddhist-beliefs-doctors-thailand-refuse-abortions\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddhist beliefs cause many doctors in Thailand to refuse to commit abortions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cI undertake to refrain from taking life.\u201d So goes the traditional Buddhist\u2019s recitation of the first of the <\/span>five precepts<\/span><\/a> taught by the Buddha.\u00a0<\/span>Little wonder then, that, until this year, abortion was virtually <\/span>illegal<\/span><\/a> in Thailand, which is <\/span>95%<\/span><\/a> Buddhist. The law had stipulated that a woman could only procure, and a doctor could only commit, an abortion in situations where it was \u201cnecessary for the sake of the health of such woman\u201d and in cases of rape under the age of 15. Both women and abortionists could be punished with jail time and\/or a fine for violating these laws.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Relevant sections of the penal code were challenged in 2018, however, by <\/span>Srisamai Chueachart<\/span><\/a>, an abortionist, who <\/span>claimed<\/span><\/a> the laws were unconstitutional after being arrested and charged. In its <\/span>ruling<\/span><\/a> on the case, the court declared these laws partially unconstitutional on the grounds that they violated a provision within the Thai <\/span>Constitution<\/span><\/a> which states that \u201c[a] person shall enjoy the right and liberty in his or her life and person.\u201d This February, changes designed to reconcile the penal code with the court\u2019s interpretation of the constitution went into effect, and first-trimester abortion was <\/span>legalized<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, according to so-called \u201cabortion rights advocate\u201d <\/span>Supecha Baotip<\/span><\/a>, \u201cMany doctors and nurses don\u2019t want to [commit abortions], even though it\u2019s now totally legal. That\u2019s about more than just a feeling. It\u2019s about belief on the spiritual level.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0\u2018Grave error\u2019: Thailand legalizes abortion on demand up to 12 weeks<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Buddhism <\/span>teaches<\/span><\/a> that life\/rebirth begins at conception. According to the \u201cBuddhism for Beginners\u201d website, <\/span>Tricycle<\/span><\/a>, \u201cIn the traditional view, whether or not an embryo or fetus can survive on its own, it is a sentient being whose spiritual progress is thwarted by an abortion. Both the mother and whoever performs the abortion generate negative karma as a result, too.\u201d <\/span>
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\n<\/span>It makes sense, then, that few Thai doctors and nurses are willing to become abortionists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most traditional Buddhists believe that the bad karma resulting from participating in abortion can cause negative consequences in this life or the next, an idea that is also propagated by many Buddhist <\/span>monks<\/span><\/a>, who have a strong influence on Thai culture. One such monk, Phra Ratchadhamanithet, said <\/span>this<\/span><\/a> when asked about the change in Thailand\u2019s abortion law: \u201cWomen who are spoiled go get abortions. They have desires to do the things that lead to a child\u2019s birth. Yet, they are not ready to take care of the child.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Supecha, abortion-minded Thais are \u201cconfused\u201d by statements like Phra Ratchadhamanithet\u2019s. \u201c[B]ecause they think, \u2018I should listen to what they have to say. Even if it\u2019s against my life and really hurts me. I still have to listen,\u2019\u201d Supecha said. \u201cThe Buddha also taught about compassion,\u201d she continued. \u201cIsn\u2019t the aim of Buddhism to get away from suffering?\u201d\u00a0Abortion, however, deliberately kills innocent human beings, which is not compassionate to the humans being killed.<\/span><\/p>\n