A Professor of Fetal Medicine at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Prof. Olufemi Oloyede, has called for a review of Nigeria’s abortion laws to give greater consideration to the interests and welfare of unborn children.
Oloyede made the call on Tuesday after delivering the university’s 130th inaugural lecture titled “To Live or Not To Live: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Fetal Medicine.”
The professor argued that discussions surrounding pregnancy termination should not focus solely on the interests of the mother but should also consider the medical condition and potential suffering of the fetus.
Oloyede said Nigeria’s existing abortion framework had historically placed emphasis on circumstances affecting the mother.
He argued that lawmakers should examine whether severe fetal abnormalities and conditions associated with significant suffering should form part of the considerations under a reformed legal framework.
“We must begin to factor in the interest of the fetus,” Oloyede said.
He maintained that where a fetus is diagnosed with severe abnormalities likely to result in significant suffering, the law should provide room for ethical and medically supervised consideration of pregnancy termination.
The don specifically referred to malformed fetuses and other serious prenatal conditions as issues that should be part of the national conversation.
Oloyede also raised questions about how conditions such as Down syndrome should be treated within broader discussions about fetal rights and abortion.
He argued that the debate should take into account the availability of medical care, social support and the ability of society to provide adequate assistance to children with significant health challenges.
His comments highlight the wider ethical questions surrounding prenatal diagnosis, fetal medicine and decisions made when serious abnormalities are detected during pregnancy.
The fetal medicine specialist acknowledged that extending such considerations to conditions such as sickle cell disease would be particularly controversial.
He noted that religious beliefs, personal convictions and societal attitudes often influence opinions on whether pregnancies involving potentially severe medical conditions should be terminated.
Oloyede argued that the realities experienced by some people living with severe sickle cell disease should also be part of the discussion.
According to him, affected children may face recurrent painful episodes, repeated blood transfusions and prolonged interruptions to their education, with some experiencing significantly shortened lives.
He said society should consider whether it has adequate systems to support children facing severe forms of the disease.
Despite his position on the abortion debate, Oloyede stressed that his proposal should not be interpreted as an argument against sickle cell awareness, prevention or medical intervention.
He called for continued and vigorous public education aimed at preventing the condition and improving outcomes for affected families.
The professor also acknowledged that children diagnosed with serious conditions could have positive outcomes where they have access to adequate healthcare, social support and other necessary services.
As part of his proposed reforms, Oloyede called for the establishment of a Multi-Disciplinary Bioethics Committee to assess difficult cases involving prenatal diagnoses and possible pregnancy termination.
He proposed that the committee should include experts in fetomaternal medicine, perinatology, law and medical sociology, as well as chaplains.
According to him, such a body could help authenticate medical indications for termination while also providing support to families confronted with complex prenatal diagnoses.
Oloyede said the committee would also help prevent individuals from exploiting any possible liberalisation of the abortion law.
Speaking on the broader theme of his inaugural lecture, Oloyede said pregnancy involves complex biological developments that can sometimes create difficult medical and ethical decisions.
He noted that complications may emerge while a baby is still in the womb, creating circumstances in which doctors and families have to consider difficult questions about whether a pregnancy should continue.
The professor said fetal medicine therefore requires not only medical expertise but also careful consideration of ethical, legal and social factors.
Oloyede also warned expectant mothers against exposing themselves and their unborn babies to substances and conditions that could contribute to congenital abnormalities.
He identified unprescribed medication, radiation and infections among factors that could potentially affect fetal development.
He advised pregnant women to avoid taking medications without appropriate medical guidance and to take precautions against potentially harmful exposures during pregnancy.
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The professor called for greater collaboration among government agencies, medical professionals, legal experts and other stakeholders on the ethical challenges surrounding fetal medicine.
He said Nigeria needed to strengthen both its legal and healthcare frameworks to respond effectively to difficult prenatal cases.
Oloyede urged stakeholders to engage in open and informed discussions on fetal rights, maternal interests, medical ethics and the possible review of Nigeria’s abortion laws.
Prof. Olufemi Oloyede’s call for a review of Nigeria’s abortion laws has opened a fresh debate around fetal rights, severe prenatal conditions and the ethical limits of pregnancy termination.
His proposal raises complex medical, legal, religious and social questions that would require broad consultation among healthcare professionals, lawmakers, ethicists, families and other stakeholders.
