Overview

Abortion first became regulated in Sweden under The Abortion Act of 1938. Over the years, the Act was amended, and the most recent amendment, put into law in 1974, states that up until the 18th week of the pregnancy, the choice of an abortion is entirely up to the woman for any reason. After the 18th week, a woman needs permission from the National Board of Health and Welfare to have an abortion, which usually grants late abortions for cases in which the mother or fetus are unhealthy. Once the fetus is viable (generally considered to be at 22 weeks), abortion is not allowed. Swedish citizens are found to be in favor of preventing unwanted pregnancies by the use of birth control. Yet, even with the promotion of birth control, studies in 2013 showed that Swedish abortion rates continue to rise. According to the Pew Research Center, abortion has not been a politically controversial topic in Sweden. Most assisted reproduction technologies are regulated by the Swedish Genetic Integrity Act of 2006, as well as several other acts and general advice from the National Board of Health and Welfare. Heterosexual and lesbian couples who are involuntarily childless are entitled to fertility treatment, along with single women. Egg and sperm donations and IVF treatments are all permitted in Sweden as well. Egg and sperm donors cannot be anonymous and donor-conceived children have a legal right to access the data on the donor. Surrogacy in Sweden is illegal. In 2010, the Swedish National Board of Health and Wealth clarified that passive euthanasia is legal in Sweden, allowing doctors to halt life-extending treatment if a patient asks. However, active euthanasia in Sweden is considered illegal and regarded as murder. The BBC reported a survey in 2008 that suggests 84% of Swedish doctors would never consider helping a patient die, even if the patient asked for it and it was legal. Advance directives are enforceable in Sweden. Human embryonic stem cells can be derived, and studied, from excess IVF embryos and by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The Activities Involving Human Eggs for Research and Treatment Purposes Act 1991 allows for research on embryos for up to 14 days after fertilization. The Biobanks in Medical Care Act 2002 set up a national stem cell bank. The Act on Genetic Integrity 2005 allows for the creation of human embryos for research using SCNT. However, reproductive cloning in Sweden is illegal. FURTHER READINGS: http://abortioninsweden.org/legislation-and-costs/ http://www.smer.se/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slutversion-sammanfattning-eng-Assisted-reproduction.pdf http://www.eurostemcell.org/regulations/regulation-stem-cell-research-sweden
Aabortion

Abortion

95 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

95 pts

Abortion and contraception allow women to express their freedom of reproduction by exercising their right of self-determination over their bodies.


Measurement questions

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's life?

Yes

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's physical health?

Yes

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's mental health?

Yes

Is abortion lawful in the event the woman was raped?

Yes

Is abortion lawful in the event of fetal defects?

Yes

Does the law mandate that an abortion is performed at the mere request of a pregnant woman?

Yes

Is RU-486 (Mifepristone) approved or registered for use?

Yes and it is available with prescription

Are emergency contraception drugs lawfully available?

Yes, over the counter

Are family planning services provided through government-run programs and facilities?

Yes, directly

Is spousal notification/permission required?

No

Assisted reproduction

Assisted Reproduction

78 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

78 pts

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are the methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. Access to assisted reproduction concerns our ability to expand our right to health by offering us access to treatment to overcome infertility.


Measurement questions

Is preimplantation genetic diagnosis permissible?

Yes with no restrictions

Is oocyte cryopreservation permissible?

Yes

Is embryo cryopreservation permissible for reproductive purposes?

Yes

Is sperm donation permissible?

Yes

Is oocyte donation permissible?

Yes

Are IVF surrogacy agreements enforceable?

No

Marital status requirements?

Stable relationship at minimum

Do same-sex couples have access to ART?

Yes

Do single women have access to ART?

No

Are there any limits on the number of pre-embryos that can be transferred?

No

End Off Life

End of life

60 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

60 pts

End of life decisions concern our ability to make choices concerning the end of our lives and take of the form of refusal of life sustaining treatment, being help in committing suicide, choosing euthanasia, and make choices that must be upheld even when the person becomes unconscious. As Young (2010) noted, "People have an interest in making important decisions about their lives in accordance with their own conception of how they want their lives to go."


Measurement questions

Is passive euthanasia lawful?

Yes

Is active euthanasia lawful?

Legally prohibited

Is physician-assisted suicide lawful?

Legally prohibited

Are advance directives (AD) enforceable?

Yes

Is a physician required to respect a patient's refusal of life-sustaining treatment?

Yes

Research With Embryo

Research with embryos

53 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

53 pts

Research with embryos and pre-embryos as well as therapeutic cloning concerns scientists’ freedom to investigate human biology as well as patients’ freedom to access regenerative medicine treatments that may be developed as a result of research with human embryonic stem cells. Since the early 2000s, research with embryos has been at the center of an often-polarized debate about the nature and scope of scientific freedom.


Measurement questions

Is basic research using germline modification in human embryos/gametes permitted?

Yes

Is pre-clinical research using germline modification technologies in animals permitted?

Yes

Is clinical research using germline modification technologies in humans permitted?

No

Are clinical applications of research using germline modification technologies (i.e., to initiate a pregnancy with edited embryos or with edited gametes) permitted?

No

GM Crops

GM Crops

0 pts out of 100 / complete

0 pts

GM crops have contributed significantly to modern agriculture. Plant breeding using genetic modification techniques has led to improving crops in more targeted ways than classical breeding techniques. GM crops acquire desirable characteristics, including pest and herbicide resistance, enhanced robustness against diseases, drought or water tolerance, and healthier profiles that can enhance nutrition.


Measurement questions

Is research on GMOs permitted in the laboratories?

Is notification to start research on GMOs in laboratories required?

Is research on GMOs frequent?

Are GM crop field trials (the limited release into the environment for research purposes) permitted?

Is authorization to start a GM crop field trial required?

Are GM crop field trials frequent?

Is cultivation of GM crops (for commercial purposes) in open field permitted?

Is authorization to start open field cultivation of GM crops required?

Is open field cultivation of GM crops frequent?

Can GM crop commodities harvested in other countries be imported?

Is authorization to import GM crop commodities required?

Is the import of GM crop commoties frequent?

Right To Science Indicators

Right To Science Indicators


Measurement questions

- Access to benefits

What is the total general government expenditure on education?

15.2

What is the expenditure on tertiary as % of government expenditure on education?

25.27

What is the the percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed a doctoral degree or equivalent?

1.21

What is the percentage of population that uses the Internet?

89.65

What is the quality of math and science education on a scale from 1 to 7 being "excellent"?

4.6

To what extent is the Internet used in schools for learning purposes?

6.2

What is the scientific literacy of 15-year-old students as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)(mean score)?

493

- Opportunities to participate

Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in hiring?

Yes

What is the percentage of females employed with advanced degrees out of total employed?

71.2

- Enabling environment

How many scientific and technical journal articles are published each year in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences?

19937.1

What is the percentage of GDP allocated to Research and Development?

3.26

How may published articles have received at least H citations in the period 1996–2014?

59.5

What is the quality of scientific research institutions?

5.7

To what extent do business and universities collaborate on research and development (R&D)?

5.2

What is the average university ranking score of countries based on their top 3 universities?

65

To what extent are scientists and engineers available?

4.8

How many professionals are employed as researchers?

14.4

How many professionals are employed by government as researchers?

4.8

- International cooperation

To what extent are talented people attracted from abroad?

4.3

Recent News about Sweden

Swedish midwife opposed to abortion appeals to European Court of Human Rights

Swedish midwife Ellinor Grimmark has decided to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights over Sweden’s hard line on conscientious objection. The Swedish Appeals Court decided earlier this month that the government can force medical professionals to perform and cooperate in abortions, or else be forced out of their profession. Because the ruling in Grimmark

Advocating for choice in Europe

Jennie Bristow reports on the 2014 Congress of the International Federation of Professional Abortion and Contraceptive Associates (FIAPAC) in Ljubljana on 2-4 October 2-4, 2014. She provides an up-to-date overview of Abortion laws in Europe that shows that Ireland and Poland “are noticeable for being out of step with the European norm” and she discusses