Law No. 194/78 “Rules for the social protection of maternity and on voluntary interruption of pregnancy” guarantees the right to conscious and responsible procreation, recognizes the social value of motherhood, and protects human life from its beginning.

In respect of the freedom and dignity of women, the process provided in the consultation centers of the Lazio Region is oriented towards humanizing the relationship between women and healthcare personnel and ensuring transparency in all phases of the care pathway.

The privacy of women seeking abortion is guaranteed by law; all healthcare operators with whom the woman comes into contact are bound by professional secrecy.

It is possible to request an abortion within the first 90 days of gestation if the pregnancy, childbirth, or motherhood may pose a danger to the mental or physical health of the woman (Article 4 of Law 194/78).

An abortion can be performed after the first 90 days when the pregnancy or childbirth poses a serious danger to the life of the woman and/or when pathological processes related to the unborn child are confirmed that pose a serious danger to the physical or mental health of the woman (Article 6 of Law 194/78).

The abortion is guaranteed by law, as is the privacy of those who request it.

All healthcare operators assisting in this process are bound by professional secrecy.

In respect of your freedom and dignity, the assistance is characterized by transparency and a human relationship with medical staff at all stages.

If you are thinking of requesting an abortion, you can contact the nearest counseling center.

You can request an abortion within the first 90 days of pregnancy, counting from the first day of your last menstruation,

An abortion can be performed after the first 90 days of pregnancy when the pregnancy or childbirth poses a serious danger to your life and/or when pathological processes related to the unborn child are confirmed that pose a serious danger to your physical or mental health (Article 6 of Law 194/78).

Italian or foreign women can call or go directly to the family counseling center, and maximum confidentiality is guaranteed at all stages of the assistance process (pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council).

For women who do not speak Italian, the intervention of a cultural mediator is guaranteed to allow them to sign an informed, complete, and truthful consent and to have support in communication during all stages of the procedure. Foreign women who do not have a health card or STP code (Temporarily Present Foreigner) are directed to the PUA (Single Access Point of the ASL) or to the competent offices in the area for the issuance of these documents.

Particular assistance pathways are dedicated to minor women and women living in conditions of isolation and/or personal fragility and the context of origin.

Welcoming the woman

A first interview is scheduled with a member of the multidisciplinary team. In this initial phase, the woman is offered all the support and necessary information so that she can consciously decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy according to the law.

During the first consultation, the woman is informed, also using written material, about:

• possible alternatives to abortion;

• available methods (pharmaceutical or surgical);

• advantages and disadvantages of each method;

• pain management;

• possible complications;

• follow-up and contraception.

Issuance of documentation

Possible issuance of the necessary documentation reminding the woman that she must present herself with the written result of the pregnancy test;

Starting the process to perform the voluntary interruption of pregnancy

If the woman decides to resort to abortion, at least one interview is conducted and all necessary information about the procedures is provided, also describing the two possible paths:

• In the absence of urgent conditions: at the end of the meeting, the doctor at the clinic, in response to the request to terminate the pregnancy based on the circumstances referred to in Article 4, issues a copy of a document, also signed by the woman, certifying the state of pregnancy and the request made, and invites her to wait for seven days. After seven days, the woman can present herself to terminate the pregnancy based on the document issued to her under this paragraph, at one of the authorized locations;

• In urgent conditions, the doctor informs the woman about the possibility of presenting herself immediately at the authorized facilities for the intervention, with the issued certificate.

At all stages of the process, if the woman has any doubts and wishes to do so, she can return to the Family Counseling Center to ask for further insights to help her in the decision.

Particular attention is given to welcoming the minor woman and accompanying her in making a choice.

Welcoming the woman

In this first phase, which consists of an initial interview with a member of the multidisciplinary team, all the support and necessary information is offered to the young woman so that she can consciously decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy according to the law, that is, “when the request for termination of pregnancy is motivated by the impact of economic, social, or family conditions on the health of the pregnant woman, to examine with the woman and with the father of the conceived, where the woman consents, respecting the dignity and confidentiality of the woman and the person indicated as the father of the conceived, the possible solutions to the proposed problems, to help her remove the causes that would lead her to terminate the pregnancy, to enable her to assert her rights as a worker and mother, to promote any appropriate intervention aimed at supporting the woman, offering her all necessary assistance both during the pregnancy and after childbirth.”

In the case of minors, three situations may arise, each of which provides for a specific path:

• minors with authorization from parents or guardians. The doctor signs and delivers the documentation with which the minor, accompanied by the parents or guardians, can present themselves at authorized facilities to undergo the procedure. Authorization from both parents is required even if legally separated;

• minors who request not to involve their parents or guardians (Article 12, paragraph 2):

• the doctor prepares the certificate that certifies the urgency and the declaration of the minor's will not to involve the parents or guardians, writes a medical report for the Guardianship Judge (G.T.) indicating the gestational age;

• the counseling center organizes one or more in-depth interviews with the minor and within 7 days (if there is no urgency) OR as soon as possible (in case of urgency). Subsequently, it issues a report with information related to the social context and an analysis of the reasons that lead the minor not to involve the parents or guardians and expresses the opinion of the service;

• the team of the Counseling Center sends the request for a hearing to the Guardianship Judge who, within five days, having heard the girl and taking into account her will, the reasons she presents, and the report sent to him, may authorize her, with an act not subject to appeal, to decide on the termination of the pregnancy.

• minors whose parents or guardians refuse to give their consent or do not agree with each other (Article 12, second paragraph). In this situation, the procedure coincides with that described in the previous point and provides for a hearing before the Guardianship Judge.

Visit the list of public family counseling centers where interviews, certification for voluntary termination of pregnancy, and post-IVG checks/interviews are conducted.