Ectopic pregnancy is not part of abortion, says expert

SHAH ALAM - It is permissible to terminate pregnancy if it endangers the mother's life in any way, says an expert.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G) Consultant, Datuk Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj said ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening so terminating a pregnancy should be allowed to save the mother's life.

"Ectopic pregnancy is implantations or fertilize ovum outside of the uterine cavity that occurs in the fallopian tubes which is definitely not the place where any pregnancy can evolve and develop.

"This is a gynaecological life-threatening emergencies where the women bleed about three litres into her abdominal cavity.

"So in this case, we have to terminate the pregnancy in order to save the mother's life which is at stake," she said during Sinar Daily's live talk show Relatable, for a topic on abortion in Malaysia.

Harlina also clarified that ectopic pregnancy is not part of abortion.

"We don't talk about ectopic pregnancy with abortion because it is two different chapters in the medical textbook.

"The word ectopic pregnancy is the one getting us into trouble by saying that ectopic pregnancy is a part of abortion which it actually isn't," she added.

Commenting further, Harlina said doctors should take the responsibility when dealing with abortion cases instead of saying such procedures is not allowed in religion.

"Contrary to what we believe that the Islamic rights is against the women's right. That is not true and I've been trying to explain this for the past 30 years.

"In fact, the Islamic understanding, opinion and rulings about this is always the most balanced.

"You have to be balanced and equilibrium and that's not easy. Doctors have to take this responsibility no matter how difficult is that, not just say "no this is not allowed in the religion", you have to be very careful when saying that," she said.