For a long time it was not possible for doctors in Germany to provide information about abortions. Now it is over. The Bundestag has overturned the controversial paragraph 219a, the so-called advertising ban for abortions.
The Bundestag decided on Friday to abolish the so-called advertising ban for abortions. The coalition factions of SPD, Greens and FDP as well as the left faction voted for the deletion of criminal law paragraph 219a. Union and AfD voted against it.
Section 219a has so far prohibited “advertising for the termination of pregnancy”. This means that medical practices and clinics are prohibited from providing detailed information about different methods of abortion. The SPD wanted to delete the passage in the previous legislative period, but it was only revised due to resistance from the Union. After that, more doctors were convicted. Part of the law that has now been passed is to overturn such convictions.
Criticism of §219a: “Absurd” and “out of date”
Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) described the abolition of the paragraph in the Bundestag debate as overdue. “It’s high time,” he said. The fact that “every troll and every conspiracy theorist” can comment on the subject of abortion on the Internet, but that doctors are forbidden to provide comprehensive information, is “absurd” and “out of date”.
“Today is a great day,” said Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus. “Women’s health and self-determination – these are human rights.” Paus emphasized that the criminal liability of abortions must also be discussed in general.
Union and AfD expressed outrage at the abolition of the law. MPs from both parliamentary groups have repeatedly emphasized that women can already obtain detailed information about abortions and that the rights of unborn life should not be neglected.
In order to ensure that “offensive” and inappropriate advertising for abortions will remain prohibited in the future, the approved government draft provides for the so-called Medicines Advertising Act to be expanded. For example, abortions without a connection to an illness would also be covered by the law, which previously regulated misleading advertising of medical products in other areas.
The law still has to be formally passed by the Bundesrat, but it can come into force without the consent of the Länderkammer.
Source: Stern
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