Striving for excellence in abortion services.

The legalisation of abortion allowed the publication of surgical outcome data demonstrating low complication rates. South Australian data from the outcomes of surgery conducted at the Pregnancy Advisory Centre illustrate the monitoring of complication rates such as uterine perforation, continuing pregnancy and incomplete abortion to improve surgical outcomes. While quality improvement systems produce positive results, there are many barriers to their uptake in Australia. Hostility towards abortion has the potential effect of retarding the adoption of improved techniques.