Abortion Crime

This is a crime that punishes the act of artificially separating and expelling a fetus from the mother's body before the natural birth period (abortion). Its purpose is to protect the life and body of the fetus and pregnant women. Articles 212 to 216 of the current Criminal Code stipulate the crime of self-abortion (imprisonment of up to one year) in which the pregnant woman herself performs the abortion, the crime of consensual abortion (imprisonment of up to two years) in which an abortion is performed with the request or consent of the pregnant woman, the crime of professional abortion (imprisonment of between three months and five years) in which a doctor or midwife performs an abortion with the pregnant woman's consent, and the crime of non-consensual abortion (imprisonment of between six months and seven years) in which an abortion is performed against the will of the pregnant woman. For crimes other than self-abortion, there are also provisions for increased penalties in cases where a pregnant woman is killed or injured.

The fetus in this crime does not matter the duration of pregnancy or the stage of development. Abortion includes killing a fetus inside the mother's womb, but does not require the fetus to die, and it can also be alive outside the mother's womb. "Induced abortion" is also considered abortion, but the Maternal Protection Law (formerly the Eugenic Protection Law) precludes the illegality of abortion by a doctor if certain conditions are met (Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the same law). In other words, if (1) the continuation of the pregnancy or childbirth is likely to seriously harm the mother's health for physical (medical) or economic reasons, or (2) the pregnancy is the result of adultery through violence or threat, a doctor designated by the medical association (designated doctor) is permitted to perform an induced abortion with the consent of the woman and her spouse.

In Japan, where abortions for economic reasons are quite freely performed, there is a debate over whether the law should be amended to prohibit such practices.

[Tetsuro Nawa]

"Life, Law, and Ethics Connecting the 21st Century: Issues Surrounding the Beginning of Life" by Kinko Nakatani (1999, Yuhikaku) " "20 Lectures on Law and Bioethics" by Akira Ishihara, 3rd Edition (2003, Nippon Hyoronsha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

自然の分娩(ぶんべん)期に先だって人為的に胎児を母体外に分離・排出させる行為（堕胎）を処罰する罪。胎児や妊娠中の女子（妊婦）の生命・身体を保護することを目的としている。現行刑法は第212条から第216条において、妊婦自身が堕胎する自己堕胎罪（1年以下の懲役）、妊婦の嘱託・承諾を得て堕胎させる同意堕胎罪（2年以下の懲役）、医師・助産師などが同意堕胎を行う業務上堕胎罪（3月以上5年以下の懲役）、妊婦の意思に反して堕胎する不同意堕胎罪（6月以上7年以下の懲役）を規定し、自己堕胎罪以外の罪においては、妊婦を死傷させた場合の加重規定を設けている。

　本罪における胎児は妊娠期間や発育の程度を問わない。また、堕胎は胎児を母体内で殺害することを含むが、胎児を死亡させることを要せず、母体外で生存を継続している場合でもよい。「人工妊娠中絶」も堕胎にあたるが、母体保護法（かつての優生保護法）によって、所定の条件を満たせば医師による堕胎は違法性が阻却される（同法14条1項）。すなわち、(1)妊娠の継続や分娩が身体的（医学的）または経済的な理由により、母体の健康を著しく害するおそれのある場合、(2)暴行や脅迫などによって姦淫(かんいん)され妊娠した場合、医師会の指定する医師（指定医師）は、本人および配偶者の同意を得て人工妊娠中絶することが許される。

　このうち、経済的理由による中絶がかなり自由に行われている日本の現状に対し、同法を改正してこれを禁圧すべきかどうかが争われている。

［名和鐵郎］

『中谷瑾子著『21世紀につなぐ生命と法と倫理――生命の始期をめぐる諸問題』（1999・有斐閣）』▽『石原明著『法と生命倫理20講』第3版（2003・日本評論社）』

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