An open letter signed by doctors from every region of the world is urging governments to decriminalise abortion.

Amnesty International have published the letter, which was signed by 838 medical professionals from 44 countries.

The letter calls on governments to stop interfering with health professionals' ability to provide care - warning that criminalising abortion puts women and girls’ health and lives at risk.

"The criminalisation of abortion prevents healthcare providers from delivering timely, medically indicated care in accordance with their patients' wishes," the letter says.

"It impedes and disregards sound medical judgment and can undermine the professional duty of care and confidentiality that doctors bear towards their patients".

Globally, 40% of women of childbearing age live in countries where abortion is banned, highly restricted or inaccessible.

Unsafe abortion accounts for 13% of maternal deaths, resulting in 47,000 women and girls dying each year.

Amnesty International is singling out three countries: El Salvador, Ireland and Chile.

Doctors and health care providers here may face up to 14 years in jail if they provide, or assist in providing, an abortion other than when a woman or girl's life is at risk.

In a June 2015 report, doctors told the human rights group that they face a choice of either breaking the law or providing potentially dangerous - and unethical - care to their patients.

Dr Peter Boylan - an obstetrician, gynaecologist and former Master of the National Maternity Hospital - told Amnesty International: "Under the [current law] we must wait until women become sick enough before we can intervene".

"How close to death do you have to be? There is no answer to that".