Fiji Police Rule Out Abortion as Cause of Woman’s Recent Death 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 24, 2008
Suva, Fiji (LifeNews.com) — Police in Fiji have now ruled out an abortion as the cause of a woman’s recent death following the release of an autopsy from medical examiners. Had the woman died from the abortion as investigators initially thought, she would have been the second victim of a botched legal abortion in five years.
The case involved a 28-year-old Lautoka housewife who appeared to die following complications from an abortion.
According to the Fiji Times, police superintendent Emori Laqai said the woman died after relatives took her to a hospital on Tuesday night. Following her death, the relatives told hospital officials the woman had an abortion the day before.
However, the newspaper indicated Divisional Crime Officer Vijay Singh said authorities officially ruled out an abortion as the cause of death but he could not say what caused the woman to die or whether she had an abortion.
"We have received a post mortem report which says it was not an abortion," he said.
While the investigation continues, the woman was buried on Saturday.
Abortion has been a concern on the island nation since the former Fiji Medical Association president was found guilty of killing a woman in a March 2003 abortion.
Sachidar Nand Mudaliar killed a 20 year-old student five years ago. Mudaliar was found guilty in the death of student Poonam Kumar after he left her overnight at his office following her death.
Most abortions in Fiji are illegal, but they are allowed in rare cases in Fiji such as rape, incest, saving the mother’s life or when approved on socioeconomic grounds.
Foreign abortion advocates have been trying to get the Pacific island nation to legalize abortions for any reason.
