[Medicolegal aspects of abortion]

An increasing number of the doctor's decisions in connection with legal abortions require a knowledge of current legislation. The physicians who conduct induced abortion have to decide by themselves if legal requirements are fullfilled. According to the laws of the German Federal Republic, these include the consent of the patient, taking for granted her capability to decide. This is important especially for minor. Comprehensive instruction is imperative. The doctor should emphasize the right of the unborn to live. The doctor is also obliged to state whether an indication is given or not. Here are difficulties with eugenic and social indications. A definition of the eugenic indication is the probability that the child will either live only for a short period or that non-reparable physical, or psychical, damage is to be expected. A risk of below 50% is not considered. Concerning the social indication, the distress must be comparable. Here a lot of possibilities of social support for mother and child are to be considered.