Three professionals to testify after "large-sized biosanitary remains” were found at the clinic

31 March 2008

MADRID - The director, the psychiatrist and a doctor at a Madrid abortion clinic will have to testify in court on charges of carrying out illegal abortions after "large-sized biosanitary remains” were found at the clinic, judge José Sierra said on Friday.

The same judge has already called in 25 women who had abortions at Clínica Isadora to testify, leading abortion supporters to denounce a conservative crusade against abortion rights in Spain.

Abortion is legal in three cases: up to 22 weeks if there is severe malformation of the foetus, 12 weeks in rape cases, and without limit when there is a risk of significant psychological damage if the pregnancy is carried to term. Almost 96 percent of the 101,000 abortions in 2006 fell into the latter category.

[Copyright EL Pais 2008]