Secretary of State for Health re-opens debate around time limit for abortion

We are disappointed to hear the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, re-opened debate around the time limit for abortion (Daily Mail interview, 14 May 2010). Later abortions are extremely rare – less than one per cent of the total and usually take place for the most compelling of reasons, such as severe foetal abnormality or following a drastic change in the personal circumstances of the woman involved. Research into premature survival rates at 22-23 weeks gestation and the current legal abortion limit are two separate and very distinct issues. One involves marginally improved survival outcomes for prematurely born babies, where a pregnancy is planned and wanted. The other involves a woman’s right to choose to end an impossible pregnancy in accordance with the law.

In 2007, The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee published a report on the Scientific Developments relating to the 1967 Abortion Act. The conclusions of the report which considered a wealth of scientific evidence from expert organisations concluded that there had not been any significant change in foetal viability which would require a reduction of the time limit. Medical professional organisations including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the British Medical Association and the British Association of Perinatal Medicine all support the 24 week time limit.

Categories: United Kingdom; Europe; Abortion

18/05/2010

Secretary of State for Health re-opens debate around time limit for abortion

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Marie Stopes International