The article on the Times of Malta (December 5), reporting on the Council of Europe’s paper lamenting the restrictive laws that prohibit abortion in Malta has the aim to highlight “the severe and harmful implications on woman’s health and well-being”.

On reading about the salient points of the report one has the feeling that abortion needs to be performed in order to eliminate a harmful object that is detrimental “quoting distress or on broad socioeconomic grounds” to the woman’s health. This line of reasoning sounds strange as there is no mention whatsoever that the ‘something’ to get rid of is an embryo or a foetus in its early stages of development on its way to become a fully formed baby ready to be born! Also, there is complete silence regarding the long-term repercussions on the physical (no matter how safe), emotional, psychological and mental health of the woman. Usually, before one is about to make a very important decision one searches all relevant information and if necessary seeks expert help.

I am sure that a mother-to-be contemplating abortion would have second thoughts when she becomes aware of the cruel procedure due to be performed on the child of her womb.