Clause 7

Unless treatment to terminate pregnancy is permitted under the provisions of subsections (3) and (5) of section 5 of this Act, without the authorisation of the Board, every pregnant woman wishing to have her pregnancy terminated shall apply to the Board for authorisation for treatment to terminate her pregnancy.

Before any application is made to the Board the pregnant woman shall arrange to be medically examined by a registered medical practitioner of her own choice or by a registered medical practitioner appointed by the Board for the purpose.

At the time of or immediately after such medical examination the pregnant woman shall complete the prescribed form of application and hand the same to the registered medical practitioner who shall forthwith send the application form with a medical certificate setting forth the reasons which, in his opinion, justify treatment to terminate pregnancy, together with such other certificates or documents as may be prescribed, for the Board’s consideration.

If the Board is of the opinion that further information is required to enable the Board to make a decision on the application it may —

When the Board is in possession of the completed application form, the medical certificate and the certificates or documents (if any) referred to in subsection (4) of this section or such other information as it may require, it shall, thereupon, give a decision on the application.

If the Board decides that the application for treatment to terminate pregnancy should be granted it shall state on the prescribed application form the grounds upon which its decision is based and shall forthwith inform the applicant by notice in writing that authorisation for treatment to terminate the pregnancy has been granted and that the treatment may be carried out on a date, which date shall (unless the health of the pregnant woman does not permit or unless the pregnancy is not sufficiently advanced or unless for such other good reasons as the Board may decide the treatment should not be carried out) be a date within seven days of the date of such authorisation and at such Government hospital or approved institution, as the Board may designate in the notice.

At the same time that the Board informs the applicant under subsection (6) of this section it shall send copies of the notice in writing referred to in that subsection and copies of her completed application form, medical certificate and such other certificates or documents, as the Board may decide, to the Government hospital or the approved institution designated in such notice for the information of the registered medical practitioner who is to carry out the treatment to terminate pregnancy.

If the Board decides not to grant the application for treatment to terminate pregnancy it shall forthwith inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for its decision.

The applicant shall have no right to appeal against the decision of the Board but if she is dissatisfied with its decision she may request the Board to reconsider its decision and, upon such request being made, the Board shall refer the matter to the registered medical practitioner who issued the medical certificate which accompanied her application form, and require him to send a further medical certificate as to the applicant’s state of health or environment, as the case may be, and to report on any fresh evidence that may be available.

Upon receipt of this further medical certificate and report, the Board shall reconsider her application and deal with the same as if it was an original application for treatment to terminate pregnancy.