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Duma looks into bill that administers prison term for abortion.

The authors of the proposed bill are deputies from the United Russia, LDPR and a Just Russia party blocs

MOSCOW, July 11 (Itar-Tass) — A bill which administers a prison term up to eight years for an abortion which entailed grave consequences to a woman's life and health has been submitted to the State Duma for approval. The authors of the proposed bill are deputies from the United Russia, LDPR and a Just Russia party blocs.

Elena Mizulina, who heads the Duma Committee on Women's, Family and Children's Affairs, told Itar-Tass that at present, almost no criminal responsibility is envisaged for illegal abortions. Today, the Criminal Code envisages only punishment administered to persons with a medical education , while a more severe punishment is envisaged only in cases of unfavorable consequences of an illegal abortion, Mizulina said.

The new bill contains a number of important clauses to prevent abortions, such as" establishing "a week of quiet " which offers a woman an opportunity to think over her decision on an abortion and revise it, Mizulina said. It is also necessary to ensure that a woman who insists in an abortion should be informed about possible negative consequences and give her voluntary consent to the surgery. Likewise, a doctor reserves the right to refuse to make an abortion for moral reasons, Mizulina said.