evidence: Although this study was limited to a small number of Melbourne obstetricians, these doctors see a disproportionate number of abnormal pregnancies, and have particular insight into the cost of restrictive abortion laws. Many such women are referred to them by doctors who are unwilling — without legal clarity — to offer the full range of prenatal care. However, since Victoria has the only free-standing clinic offering late abortion in Australia, the state acts as a de facto referral centre for late terminations: in 2005, 104 of the 180 post-20-week terminations when there was no fetal anomaly were for women from interstate or overseas.10 This is indirect evidence that fear and unclear laws also exist in other states, that effectively export these women for care. [...] There is an unreasonable contrast between obstetric and neonatal management after 20 weeks’ gestation. Paediatricians recommend that the parents of a normal infant born at 24–26 weeks should decide whether or not their baby is treated,15,16 even if there is some chance of survival. Yet at the same gestation, with the same prognosis, late abortion is likely to be refused. Paediatricians will also discuss with the family the option of withdrawing intensive care in some cases where an older baby is severely affected with abnormalities but is still capable of surviving. It seems the fetus inside a woman’s body has a higher moral status than a newborn infant of the same gestation outside the woman’s body.