February 15, 2006
DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF ABORTION CLINIC TO FACE THOUSANDS OF CHARGES RELATING TO ILLEGAL ABORTIONS

Embargo:        Feb 15, 2006                                                        
Enquiries:        John Smyth,  QC
Cell:                  +27 83-653-8804    

Doctors for Life understand that the Director of the Rose Clinic Durban and his staff will appear again in the Durban Magistrates Court at 0900 hours on WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY when thousands more charges of illegal abortions, fraud and misuse of drugs will be added to the charges already laid against the four accused. It is expected that there will also be hundreds of charges of conspiracy and at least one charge of culpable homicide.

The Police investigation arose out of information provided by Doctors for Life following the High Court action filed by Crystal Osler and DFL against the clinic. Crystal , at the age of 18, was the victim of an illegal abortion at the clinic as a result of which she gave birth to a son certified as 28 weeks by the State pathologist. Her case is to be heard later this year.

This is believed to be the first prosecution anywhere in the country under the 1996 Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act.

Representatives of the Press and Media are advised to arrive early in view of the limited number of seats available.

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'Doctors for Life International' represents more than 1400 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. DFL was founded as a South African organization in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria prevention and the care of abused women.