Australia’s leading sexual and reproductive healthcare organisation, Marie Stopes International Australia, today supported the AMA’s concern over the Government’s proposed pregnancy counselling Medicare item number potentially breaching women’s privacy.

Marie Stopes International Australia’s Australian CEO, Suzanne Dvorak, said it was alarming that all women who undertook the counselling would be easily identified.

“Being a unique item number, anyone who may see the woman’s account will be able to instantly know that she is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and potentially contemplating an abortion,” Ms Dvorak said.

“This could include Medicare staff, reception staff or even family members, and therefore puts a woman’s privacy completely at risk.”

In addition, the item number excludes use by GPs who have been associated with termination services.

Health Minister Tony Abbott, an anti-choice politician, praised the measures as a "source of personal as well as professional satisfaction" in an address to the National Press Club.

“Once again politicians are interfering with women’s reproductive rights and are using devious tactics to collect data on abortion,” Ms Dvorak said.

“Politicians should ensure that women have access to un-biased information, support and the highest medical care when making decisions about whether or not to have a termination.

“The final decision about whether to terminate a pregnancy should be left to a woman and her doctor, respecting her privacy at all times.”

Ms. Dvorak also believed that a possible push within the Federal Government to curtail women’s access to termination services was not the solution to address concern over Australia’s percieved high abortion rate.

“In dealing with the issue of abortion, the Commonwealth Government needs to improve sex education for teens, increase access to sexual health services, and address the issue of contraceptive failure,” Ms. Dvorak said.

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