Croatia’s Abortion Provisions in Croatian

ZAKON O ZDRAVSTVENIM MJERAMA ZA OSTVARIVANJE PRAVA NA SLOBODNO ODLUČIVANJE O RAĐANJU DJECE (NN 18/78 i 88/09)

Ĉlan 1.
Radi ostvarivanja prava ĉovjeka da slobodno odluĉuje o raĊanju djece, ovim se zakonom ureĊuju prava i duţnosti graĊana, koja se odnose na spreĉavanje neţeljenog zaĉeća, prekid neţeljene trudnoće, kao i na medicinsku pomoć onima koji iz zdravstvenih razloga ne mogu ostvariti ţelju za vlastitim potomstvom.

Ĉlan 2.
Pravo ĉovjeka da slobodno odluĉuje o raĊanju djece moţe se ograniĉiti samo radi zaštite zdravlja, a pod uvjetima i na naĉin koji odreĊuje ovaj zakon.

Ĉlan 15.
Prekid trudnoće je medicinski zahvat. Prekid trudnoće se moţe izvršiti do isteka deset tjedana od dana zaĉeća. Nakon isteka deset tjedana od dana zaĉeća, prekid trudnoće moţe se izvršiti samo po odobrenju komisije, a pod uvjetima i po postupku utvrĊenom ovim zakonom.

Ĉlan 16.
Prekid trudnoće ne smije se izvršiti kad se utvrdi da bi mogao teţe naruĉiti zdravlje ţene.

Ĉlan 17.
Prekid trudnoće se moţe izvršiti u bolnicama koje imaju organiziranu jedinicu za ginekologiju i porodiljstvo i u drugim zdravstvenim organizacijama udruţenog rada koje za to posebno ovlasti republiĉki organ uprave nadleţan za poslove zdravstva.

Ĉlan 18.
Prekid trudnoće se vrši na zahtjev trudne ţene. Uz zahtjev za prekid trudnoće koji podnosi maloljetnica, koja nije navršila 16 godina ţivota, potreban je i pristanak roditelja ili staratelja uz suglasnost organa starateljstva.

Ĉlan 19.
Trudna ţena obraća se sa zahtjevom za prekid trudnoće zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada koja vrši prekid trudnoće prema svom izboru. Ako su ispunjeni uvjeti za prekid trudnoće trudna ţena se upućuje lijeĉniku koji vrši prekid trudnoće.

Ĉlan 20.
Ako se utvrdi da je isteklo deset tjedana od dana zaĉeća ili da bi prekid trudnoće mogao teţe naruĉiti zdravlje ţene, trudna ţena se sa zahtjevom upućuje na komisiju prvog stupnja. Kad se u sluĉaju iz stava 1. ovoga ĉlana radi o maloljetnici koja je navršila 16 godina ţivota, a nije stupila u brak, o upućivanju maloljetnice na komisiju prvog stupnja obavijestit će se roditelji odnosno staratelj maloljetnice.

Ĉlan 21.
U sluĉaju iz ĉlana 19. stava 2. ovoga zakona prekid trudnoće moţe se izvršiti odmah nakon što se trudna ţena javi lijeĉniku koji vrši prekid trudnoće, a u sluĉaju iz ĉlana 20. stava 1. ovoga zakona prekid trudnoće izvršit će se odmah po odobrenju komisije prvog stupnja, ali najkasnije u roku sedam dana od dana odobrenja.

Ĉlan 22.
Nakon isteka deset tjedana od dana zaĉeća komisija prvog stupnja moţe odobriti prekid trudnoće, uz pristanak odnosno na zahtjev trudne ţene, u sluĉajevima: – kad se na temelju medicinskih indikacija utvrdi da se na drugi naĉin ne moţe spasiti ţivot ili otkloniti narušenje zdravlja ţene za vrijeme trudnoće, poroĊaja ili poslije poroĊaja; – kad se na temelju medicinskih indikacija i saznanja medicinske znanosti moţe oĉekivati da će se dijete roditi s teškim priroĊenim tjelesnim ili duševnim manama; – kad je do zaĉeća došlo u vezi s izvršenjem kriviĉnog djela silovanja, obljube nad nemoćnom osobom, obljube zloupotrebom poloţaja, obljube s djetetom ili rodoskvrnuća.

Ĉlan 23.
Postupak po zahtjevu za prekid trudnoće je hitan. Komisija prvog stupnja duţna je odluĉiti o zahtjevu za prekid trudnoće u roku osam dana od dana prijema zahtjeva.

Ĉlan 24.
Trudna ţena koja je nezadovoljna odlukom komisije prvog stupnja moţe uloţiti prigovor komisiji drugog stupnja u roku tri dana. Komisija drugog stupnja duţna je odluĉiti o prigovoru protiv odluke komisije prvog stupnja u roku osam dana od dana prijema prigovara. Odluka komisije drugog stupnja o zahtjevu za prekid trudnoće je konaĉna.

Ĉlan 25.
Bez obzira na uvjete i postupak propisan ovim zakonom prekid trudnoće će se izvršiti ili dovršiti: – kad prijeti neposredna opasnost za ţivot ili zdravlje trudne ţene, – kad je prekid trudnoće već zapoĉet. Prekid trudnoće u sluĉaju iz stava 1. ovoga ĉlana izvršit će se u zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada koja vrši prekid trudnoće, a izuzetno taj se zahvat moţe izvršiti i u drugoj zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada.

Ĉlan 26.
Zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada duţna je u roku 30 dana od dana izvršenja prekida trudnoće obavijestiti o prekidu trudnoće organ nadleţan za voĊenje zdravstvene statistike.

Ĉlan 27.
Ako se kod dovršenja već zapoĉetog prekida trudnoće pojavi sumnja da je prekid trudnoće zapoĉet suprotno odredbama ovoga zakona, odgovorna osoba u zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada u kojoj je dovršen prekid trudnoće duţna je o tome odmah podnijetu prijavu nadleţnom organu gonjenja.

Ĉlan 28.
Zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada u kojoj se vrši prekid trudnoće mora osigurati vršenje prekida trudnoće uz primjenu suvremenih medicinskih metoda. Zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada iz stava 1. ovoga ĉlana, duţna je u sluĉaju potrebe omogućiti da ţena nakon izvršenog prekida trudnoće produţi boravak u zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada.

[…]

Ĉlan 35.
Komisiju prvog stupnja koja odluĉuje o zahtjevu za sterilizaciju odnosno o zahtjevu za prekid trudnoće ĉine dva lijeĉnika od kojih jedan mora biti ginekolog, te socijalni radnik ili medicinska sestra, koji su u radnom odnosu u zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada koja vrši sterilizaciju odnosno prekid trudnoće. Komisiju prvog stupnja osniva zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada koja vrši sterilizaciju odnosno prekid trudnoće.

Ĉlan 36.
Komisiju drugog stupnja koja, u smislu ĉlana 13. i 24. ovoga zakona, odluĉuje o prigovoru protiv odluke komisije prvog stupnja ĉine dva lijeĉnika ginekologa, lijeĉnik specijalist odgovarajuće grane medicine obzirom na medicinske indikacije zbog kojih se odluĉuje o dozvoli za sterilizaciju odnosno o dozvoli za prekid trudnoće, socijalni radnik i sudac kojeg na zahtjev ovlaštene zdravstvene organizacije udruţenog rada odredi predsjednik općinskog suda, na podruĉju kojega se nalazi ta zdravstvena organizacija. Komisiju iz stava 1. ovoga ĉlana osniva zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada koju za to posebno ovlasti republiĉki organ uprave nadleţan za poslove zdravstva.

Ĉlan 37.
Komisije iz ĉlana 35. i 36. ovoga zakona rade u sjednicama, a odluke donose većinom glasova. Komisija moţe, radi dopune medicinskih nalaza i mišljenja, uputiti podnosioca zahtjeva u odgovarajuću zdravstvenu organizaciju udruţenog rada radi utvrĊivanja ĉinjenica od kojih ovisi donošenje odluke o zahtjevu.

VI. CIJENE I TROŠKOVI

Ĉlan 38.
Cijena zdravstvenih usluga za medicinske zahvate predviĊene ovim zakonom utvrdit će se na temelju zajedniĉkih osnova i mjerila dogovorenih u okviru Saveza zajednica zdravstvenog osiguranja i zdravstva Hrvatske izmeĊu samoupravnih interesnih zajednica zdravstvenog osiguranja i zdravstva.

Ĉlan 41.
Troškove prekida trudnoće snosi trudna ţena, ukoliko samoupravnim općim aktom samoupravne interesne zajednice zdravstvenog osiguranja i zdravstva nije drukĉije odreĊeno. Ako se prekid trudnoće vrši zbog kojeg od razloga iz ĉlana 22. ovoga zakona, kao i u sluĉaju neţeljene trudnoće ţena koje koriste intrauterina sredstva za kontracepciju, troškove prekida trudnoće snosi samoupravna interesna zajednica zdravstvenog osiguranja i zdravstva. Za trudnu ţenu koja je u stanju socijalno-zaštitne potrebe, troškove prekida trudnoće snosi samoupravna interesna zajednica socijalne zaštite u općini na podruĉju koje trudnica ima prebivalište, a pod uvjetima i na naĉin utvrĊen samoupravnim općim aktom.

VII. KAZNENE ODREDBE

Ĉlan 42.
Novĉanom kaznom od 2.000 do 10.000 dinara kaznit će se za prekršaj zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada: 1. koja izvrši sterilizaciju, prekid trudnoće ili umjetnu oplodnju a za to nije ovlaštena (ĉlan 14., 17. i 31.), 2. koja izvrši sterilizaciju ili prekid trudnoće bez prethodne odluke komisije kad je takva odluka potrebna (ĉlan 13., 20. i 22.), 3. koja ne osigura tajnost podataka o davaocu sjemena, o umjetno oploĎenoj ženi i njezinom mužu (član 32.). Za prekršaj iz stava 1. ovoga ĉlana kaznit će se novĉanom kaznom od 500 do 3.000 dinara zdravstveni radnik koji izvrši sterilizaciju, prekid trudnoće ili umjetnu oplodnju. Napomena: sukladno odredbama članka 56. Zakona o medicinskoj oplodnji (Nar. nov., br. 88/09), danom stupanja na snagu toga Zakona prestaju važiti članci 29. do 34. i točka 3. stavka 1. članka 42. Zakona o zdravstvenim mjerama za ostvarivanje prava na slobodno odlučivanje o raĎanju djece (Nar. nov., br. 18/78.).

Ĉlan 43.
Novĉanom kaznom od 1.000 do 5.000 dinara kaznit će se za prekršaj zdravstvena organizacija udruţenog rada koja u roku 30 dana ne podnese prijavu o izvršenoj sterilizaciji odnosno ne obavijesti o izvršenom prekidu trudnoće (ĉlan 14. stav 2. i ĉlan 26.). Za prekršaj iz stava 1. ovog ĉlana kaznit će se novĉanom kaznom od 500 do 2.000 dinara odgovorna osoba u zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada.

Ĉlan 44.
Novĉanom kaznom od 1.000 do 3.000 dinara kaznit će se za prekršaj odgovorna osoba u zdravstvenoj organizaciji udruţenog rada u kojoj je dovršen zapoĉeti prekid trudnoće ako u sluĉaju sumnje da je prekid zapoĉet suprotno odredbama ovoga zakona odmah ne podnese prijavu nadleţnom organu gonjenja (ĉlan 27.).

 

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KAZNENOG ZAKONA
Klasa: 011-01/11-01/186
Urbroj: 71-05-03/1-11-2
Zagreb, 26. listopada 2011.

Protupravni prekid trudnoće — Članak 115.
(1) Tko protivno propisima o prekidu trudnoće, trudnoj osobi izvrši, potakne je ili joj pomogne izvršiti prekid trudnoće s njezinim pristankom, kaznit će se kaznom zatvora do tri godine.
(2) Ako je kaznenim djelom iz stavka 1. ovoga članka prouzročena smrt trudne osobe ili joj je zdravlje teško narušeno, počinitelj će se kazniti kaznom zatvora od jedne do deset godina.
(3) Tko trudnoj osobi bez njezinog pristanka izvrši prekid trudnoće, kaznit će se kaznom zatvora od jedne do osam godina.
(4) Ako je kaznenim djelom iz stavka 3. ovoga članka prouzročena smrt trudne osobe ili joj je zdravlje teško narušeno, počinitelj će se kazniti kaznom zatvora od tri do petnaest godina.
(5) Za pokušaj kaznenog djela iz stavka 1. ovoga članka počinitelj će se kazniti.

 

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Croatia’s Abortion Provisions in English (Unofficial Translation)

Contraception, sterilization, abortion, and artificial insemination, Law No. 1252-1978 of April 21, 1978 on health measures to implement the right to a free decision regarding the birth of children (Narodne Novine, May 4, 1978, No. 18 at 423-426), Articles 1-2, 15-28, 35-38 &, 41-44.*

Article 1.

In order to implement the right of all persons to a free decision regarding the birth of children, this Law shall regulate the rights and duties of citizens with regard to the prevention of unwanted conception, the termination of unwanted pregnancy, and medical assistance to persons who for health reasons cannot realize their wish to have children of their own.

Article 2.

The right of persons to a free decision regarding the birth of children may be restricted only on grounds of health protection and subject to the conditions and in the manner proscribed by this Law.

[…]

Part III. TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

Article 15.

Termination of pregnancy is a medical procedure.

Pregnancy may be terminated up to ten weeks following the date of conception

After ten weeks have elapsed since the date of conception, pregnancy may be terminated only with the authorization of a Commission and subject to the conditions and in accordance with the procedure prescribed by this Law.

Article 16.

Pregnancy may not be terminated if it is demonstrated that this could seriously harm the woman’s health.

Article 17.

Pregnancies may be terminated in hospitals possessing an organized department of gynecology and obstetrics as well as in other associated labor organizations in the health sector specially authorized for the purpose by the Republic administrative agency responsible for matters of health.

Article 18.

Pregnancy shall be terminated on application by the pregnant woman. In case of an application for pregnancy termination submitted by a minor under 16 years of age, the consent of her parents or, subject to the approval of the guardianship authority, her guardian shall be required.

Article 19.

The pregnant woman shall submit her application for pregnancy termination to an associated labor organization in the health sector which carries out pregnancy terminations, in accordance with her own choice.

If the conditions for terminating the pregnancy are met, the pregnant woman shall be referred to the physician who is to carry out the termination.

Article 20.

Where it is established that 10 weeks have elapsed since the date of conception or that a pregnancy termination might seriously harm the woman’s health, the pregnant woman shall be referred to the First Level Commission.

If the circumstances referred to in the first paragraph of this Section concern a minor who has reached the age of 16 and is not married, her parents or her guardian shall be informed that she has been referred to the First Level Commission.

Article 21.

In the case referred to in the second paragraph of article 19 of this Law, the pregnancy may be terminated immediately after the pregnant women presents herself to the physician who is to carry out the termination, and in the case referred to in the first paragraph of article 20 of this Law, the pregnancy shall be terminated immediately after the first level commission has given its authorization and in any case not later than seven days after the date of such authorization.

Article 22.

After 10 weeks have elapsed since the date of conception, the first level commission may authorize a pregnancy termination, with the consent of or on application by the pregnant woman, in the following cases:

− where, on the basis of medical indications, it is established that there is no other way to save the life or avert damage to the health of the woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium,

− where, on the basis of medical indications and medical knowledge, it may be supposed that the child will be born with severe congenital physical or mental defects,

− where conception occurred as a result of rape, intercourse with an incompetent person, intercourse through abuse of authority, intercourse with a child, or incest.

Article 23.

The application procedure for pregnancy termination is urgent.

The first level commission must reach a decision regarding an application for pregnancy termination within eight days following receipt of the application.

Article 24.

A pregnant woman who is not satisfied with the decision of the first level commission may lodge an appeal with the second level commission within three days.

The second level commission must reach a decision regarding an appeal against the decision of the first level commission within eight days following the receipt of the appeal.

The decision of the second level commission regarding applications for pregnancy termination are final.

Article 25.

Notwithstanding the conditions of procedure hereby described, the abortion will be performed or completed under the following conditions:

− where immediate danger is present to the life or health of the pregnant woman,

− when the abortion has already been started.

In cases described in the first paragraph of this Article, the abortion will be performed in such a medical organization of associated labor that usually performs abortions, but under exceptional circumstances, this abortion may be performed in other medical organizations of associated labor.

Article 26.

The medical organization of associated labor must within 30 days after the abortion notify the fact of the abortion to the authority having jurisdiction over medical statistics.

Article 27.

If the completion of an already started abortion gives rise to a suspicion that the abortion has been started contrary to the provisions of this Act, the responsible person in the medical organization of associated labor in which the abortion has been completed must immediately notify the prosecutorial authority having jurisdiction over the matter,

Article 28.

The organization of associated labor in which the abortion is performed must use the most modern medical methods available for the performance of this operation. The medical organization in the preceding paragraph must ensure that the woman on whom the abortion has been performed will prolong (if necessary for the purposes of convalescence) her sojourn in this medical organization of associated labor.

[…]

V. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND WORK OF THE COMMISSIONS

Article 35.

The commission of first instance, with jurisdiction over the requests for sterilization or abortion respectively, is composed of two physicians, of whom one is to be a gynecologist and one a social worker or registered nurse, who shall work in the medical organization of associated labor which is to perform the sterilization or abortion. The Commission of First Instance is established by the medical organization of associated labor which is to perform the sterilization or abortion.

Article 36.

The commission of second instance which, within the meaning of Articles 13 and 24, decides on appeal the decision of the commission of first instance, is to be composed of two gynecologists (with one a specialist in that branch of medicine concerned with medical indications that are the substance of the request for sterilization or abortion), one social worker, and one judge, who is, upon the request of the authorized medical organization of associated labor, nominated by the president of the County Court having jurisdiction over the territory in which the respective medical organization is registered. The Commission mentioned in the first paragraph of this Article, is established by the medical organization of associated labor which is for this purpose especially authorized by the republican authority having jurisdiction over medical questions.

Article 37.

The Commissions referred to in Articles 35 and 36 of this Act work in conference, their decisions are by majority vote.

The Commission may, in view of its need for medical expertise and opinion, refer the petitioner to an appropriate medical organization of associated labor in order for the facts upon which the decision has to based to be properly ascertained.

VI. FEES AND EXPENSES

Article 38.

The fees for the medical services connected with medical operations anticipated by this Act are to be established on the basis of criteria agreed upon in the framework of the Union of Associations of Medical Insurance and Health of Croatia by self-management interest communities of medical insurance and health.

[…]

Article 41.

The expenses for abortion are to be paid by the pregnant woman unless the self-managerial interest community of medical insurance and health provides differently.

If the abortion is being performed for the reasons set forth in Article 22 of this Act, or in cases of unwanted pregnancy of those women that use intrauterine contraceptive devices, the expenses for abortion are to be defrayed by the self-management interest community of medical insurance and health.

If a pregnant woman is in such a financial situation that she needs social security protection, the expenses for abortion will be paid by the self-management interest community of social protection in the county of the territory where the pregnant woman resides under the conditions and in the mode ascertained by a self-management general act.

VII. PENAL PROVISIONS

Article 42.

A fine of not less than 2,000 and not more than 10,000 dinars will be imposed for a transgression upon the medical organization of associated labor if:

1. it performs a sterilization, abortion, or artificial insemination which it is not authorized (articles 14, 17, 31) to perform,

2. it performs a sterilization or abortion without a previous decision of a Commission when such a decision is necessary (Articles 13, 20, 21),

3. it does not ensure the secrecy of data concerning the identities of the donor of semen, the artificially inseminated woman, or her husband (Article 32).

These transgressions set forth in paragraph 1 of this article by an individual medical worker will be punished by a fine of no less than 500 and no more than 3,000 dinars if an unauthorized sterilization, abortion or artificial insemination is performed by such worker.

Article 43.

A fine of no less than 1,000 and no more than 5,000 dinars will be imposed, for a transgression, upon a medical organization of associated labor which within 30 days after it performs a sterilization or an abortion does not notify the competent authority (article 14, paragraph 2 and article 26).

The responsible person in the medical organization of associated labor who commits the misdemeanor described in paragraph 1 of this Article will be punished by a fine of at least 500 and at most 1,000 dinars.

Article 44.

The responsible person in a medical organization of associated labor in which an abortion already begun is completed and a suspicion is present that such an abortion had been begun contrary to the provisions of this Act, without such suspicion being immediately reported to the competent prosecutorial authority (article 27), will be punished for this transgression by a fine of no less than 1,000 and no more than 3,000 dinars.

* Translation adapted from the World Health Organization’s International Digest of Health Legislation (Vol. 30) (1979) and Harvard University School of Public Health’s Annual Review of Population Law website.

 

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CRIMINAL CODE
Class: 011-01/11-01/186
File No.: 71-05-03/1-11-2
Zagreb, October 26, 2011

Article 115 — Unlawful Termination of Pregnancy

Article 115. (1) Whoever, in violation of regulations on pregnancy termination, performs, incites, or assists a pregnant person in terminating a pregnancy with her consent, shall be punished with imprisonment for up to three years.
(2) If the criminal offense from paragraph 1 of this article causes the death of the pregnant person
or her health is seriously impaired, the perpetrator will be punished with imprisonment from one to ten years.
(3) Whoever performs an abortion on a pregnant person without their consent, will be punished with imprisonment from one to eight years.
(4) If the criminal offense from paragraph 3 of this article causes the death of the pregnant person
or seriously endangers their health, the perpetrator will be punished with imprisonment from three to fifteen years.
(5) For an attempt to commit the criminal offense from paragraph 1 of this article, the perpetrator will be punished.