A report on six months experience of committee for the control of abortion

During the first six months experience of a committee for the control of abortions, within the framework of Kupat Holim (Workers' Sick Fund of 'Histadrug' in Israel), 70 pregnant women sent by their physicians appeared before the committee for the interruption of their pregnancies. The reasons brought before the committee were of a medical, genetic, psychiatric or social nature. Discussed here are the socio-psychiatric cases, under the heading of the country of origin, age of the women, their cultural background and social situation of their families. Some conclusions are drawn in connection with the motivations which seem to have determined the positive or negative position of the committee and some possible implications are discussed concerning the legislation of the whole subject.