“Most doctors are not willing to perform abortions for moral and legal reasons,” says Kak. “But carrying a child out of wedlock poses a medical, social and moral problem where the only gate keeper is the physician.”

Mattar says that doctors feel that it's their duty to protect the health of all patients.

“We feel guilty when we turn our backs, worried whether or not they will be in safe hands somewhere else,” he adds. “But the real moral problem lies when for example a pregnancy was a result of rape or incest, when there is a high probability of fetal impairment, or if the patient says she will be killed by her family for bringing them dishonor.”

The procedure

“The procedure is very simple and the idea has become more tolerant, that's why today having an abortion is much easier than in the past,” says Kak.

Doctors who perform the operation bypass the laws by saying they need to abort the baby because it will affect the mother's life.

“And other doctors refer to the procedure as a Menstrual Regulator (MR) and not an abortion. Such labels make it easier to accept the procedure in hospitals and society as a whole,” explains Mattar.