ethicsforschools.org


	Abortion News Review

Items are listed by date, starting with the most recent:

July 2004

Controversy over 14 year old’s abortion

The case of a 14 year old girl who had an abortion without her mother’s knowledge has provoked outrage in the media. Melissa Smith opted for a termination after talking to a school health worker.

Her mother claims that the first she knew of the situation was when the school contacted her to ask why Melissa was not in school. They telephoned her subsequently and claimed to have made a mistake, but Mrs Smith later discovered that she had been at the hospital having a scan.

Once she found out about the pregnancy she talked to her daughter, together with her boyfriend and his mother. They decided to keep the baby and contacted the local hospital, as Melissa had only taken the first of two pills as part of a chemical abortion. However, they learnt that the fetus would already have been damaged.

Mrs Smith told the BBC that her daughter had been too afraid to say she wanted to keep the baby until they had talked. She believed that her daughter had been talked into having a termination by school staff, violating her rights as a mother.

The ‘Fraser guidelines’, laid down by Lord Fraser in Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech AHA (1986), allow a doctor to give contraceptive advice and treatment to a minor without consulting their parents - although the practitioner should be satisfied that the young person cannot be persuaded to inform them. The guidelines are widely construed to cover termination procedures as well. (bbc.co.uk 2004; 13 May)

Legal status of the fetus altered in the US

President George W Bush has signed legislation making it a separate offence to harm an unborn child during a violent attack on a pregnant woman. The new rule has been dubbed ‘Laci and Conner’s Law’ after the highly-publicised murder of a pregnant Californian woman.

The legislation was overwhelmingly supported by the US Senate, but has been fiercely criticised by pro-choice activists who believe it is a move towards a ban on abortion. Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that the law was ‘part of a deceptive anti-choice strategy to make women’s bodies mere vessels by creating legal personhood for the foetus’. Campaigners were particularly angered by the bill’s definition of the fetus as ‘a member of the species homo sapiens at any stage of development who is carried in the womb’. It effectively establishes in criminal law that a fetus injured during an assault is just as much a victim of the crime as the expectant mother. In the UK, the fetus has no rights before birth. (bbc.co.uk 2004; 2 April, Washington Post 2004; 2 April)

January 2003

Curate wins abortion review

An Anglican curate has been awarded the right to a judicial review in a case where a fetus was aborted because it had a cleft palate. Rev Joanna Jepson, who was born with facial deformities herself, won a High Court appeal, permitting her to challenge the Chief Constable of West Mercia Police for failing to prosecute the doctor involved.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 amended the Abortion Act 1967 to impose a 24-week limit on abortion (the age when a baby is capable of independent existence outside the womb), except in special circumstances. But paradoxically it also legalised abortion up until birth in the case of 'serious handicap'. Jepson argues that a cleft palate is not a sufficient reason for termination, and constitutes 'unlawful killing' under the Act.

Rev Jepson issued a statement saying that people must resist the belief that the value of human life is found in physical perfection; disability should not be viewed negatively. Paul West, the Chief Constable of West Mercia, defended his decision not to prosecute the doctor, saying that he took the best medical and legal advice available at the time. In papers submitted to the High Court, the force says it took the advice of a senior member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists before making the decision not to take the matter further. The College argued that since what constitutes a 'severe abnormality' is not fully defined under the Act, doctors can therefore apply a degree of discretion when taking the mother's wishes into consideration. About 100 abortions beyond 24 weeks are carried out each year in England and Wales for 'severe abnormality', so the case could have far-reaching implications. (Reuters 2003; 1 December, Times 2003; 23 November, bbc.co.uk 2003; 19 November, 1 December)

Reaction to partial-birth abortion in the US

There were mixed reactions in America as President Bush signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Bill into law. This makes it illegal to perform partial birth abortion, except if it is necessary to save a mother's life. The procedure is used during the second half of pregnancy and involves partially delivering the baby in breech position before the contents of the baby's cranial cavity are aspirated prior to delivery of the head.

The National Right to Life Committee, the major pro-life organisation in the USA, welcomed the legislation and 'strongly commended' President Bush. They described the president's statement that a partial-birth abortion kills a baby who is 'inches from birth' as the 'literal, painful truth'.

On the other side, the National Coalition of Abortion Providers said that the orders would accomplish nothing. They said that abortion is a 'patient-driven procedure' and women with unintended pregnancies will still seek out abortion services, despite the legislation. They suggested taxpayers' money would be more wisely spent determining what causes women to delay their decision to have an abortion in the first place, rather than using it to process unnecessary legislation. There are currently about 2,000 partial-birth abortions annually in the US. (nrlc.org/abortion, ncap.com)

January 2003

Abortion for 'serious handicap' brought into question

A Cambridge student has made allegations of unlawful killing after discovering a case of late term abortion for cleft palate in the official statistics.

Under s.1(1)(d) of the 1967 Abortion Act, abortion beyond 24 weeks is legal if there is, 'substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped'. The definition of serious handicap remains a somewhat grey area in both the legislature and official guidelines. Rather, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists prefers to leave it to the doctor's discretion to decide what counts as a 'major handicap' in such circumstances.

However, many would hold that cleft palate does not count as such. Joanna Jepson, who made the allegation, has herself had corrective surgery for a congenital jaw abnormality and said, 'To take away lives for that reason is completely abhorrent. Having been in that position myself, is society saying I should have died?' The Metropolitan Police are investigating Ms Jepson's allegation.

In another case at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, the option of aborting a twin boy in the late stages of pregnancy was considered because the child was diagnosed with a heart defect. The abortion would have been performed by injecting potassium chloride directly into the child's heart, and his dead body would then have been delivered at the same time as his living twin sister. However, several experts were against the termination, believing that the child had a good prognosis with surgery, and that the abortion would be psychologically detrimental for the 19 year old mother. The mother eventually refused the abortion. (bbc.co.uk 2002;28 October, Sunday Times 2002;10 November)

Abortion may increase women's mortality rate

A study examining the death records of 173,000 Californian women has revealed that those who had abortions were almost twice as likely to die in the two years following the operation.

The research linked death records to medical insurance payments for births and abortions. Women who aborted had a 154% higher risk of death from suicide, were 82% more likely to die by accident, and had a 44% higher rate of death by natural causes. Elevated mortality rates persisted for the eight year span covered by the study.

This follows a 1996 Finnish study that indicated a 252% higher death rate for aborting women compared to those who delivered, and 76% higher than those who had not been pregnant. (Nucleus 2002;July:20-27, Elliot Institute press release 2002;8 August)

October 2002

Accusations over easy abortions

The Pro-Life Alliance has accused the government of supporting the abortion pill because it is the cheaper alternative to other methods. This follows a decision to make the RU-486 abortion drug more easily accessible during the first nine weeks of pregnancy.

The drug, also known as mifepristone, will be available free on the NHS from family planning clinics to women of all ages, including under-age girls. Prior to the July announcement, mifepristone was only available in hospital wards or through special day units.

The Department of Health denied that its decision was motivated by cost-cutting, but rather fuelled by a desire to reduce the need for surgery and so make abortion less traumatic for women. Ministers believe that the scheme will reduce waits of up to five weeks to end a pregnancy, making the system faster so that government targets are met. Ian Johns of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service has asserted that this will enable women to consider the real issues about abortion rather than having their time taken up with practicalities.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Marie Stopes International has asserted that the requirement for two doctors to sign an abortion certificate should be abolished so as to help meet the 'huge abortion need'. Support for this also came from the Family Planning Association, who argued that sex education should start in primary school.

In another development, Sainsbury's supermarkets have announced that five of its stores are providing the abortifacient morning-after pill free of charge to girls under 16. Sainsbury's chief executive, Sir Peter Davis, said: 'We feel it is a responsibility to offer choice to our customers. We don't feel that it is right for us to tell our customers.how they should or shouldn't act.' Earlier this year, Tesco stores gave up a similar bid after pressure from pro-life organisations. (Times 2002; 8 July, spuc.org.uk 2002; 11 July, 22 August)

July 2002

BBC wrong to ban Prolife broadcast

The BBC has been heavily criticised for refusing to show a party political broadcast that contained images of abortions. Three senior judges accused the corporation of censorship following its decision to ban the Prolife Alliance video before the 2001 election.

The decision came as something of a surprise as the Alliance has already been unsuccessful in court on several occasions. Attempts to win a showing before the 1997 election failed and the European Court of Human Rights had also refused to take on the issue. A High Court ruling had refused them the right to seek a judicial review of the BBC's decision, although this has now been overturned.

Three versions of the video were rejected by the BBC, as well as other television companies, because they contained images deemed to be offensive.

In his summing up Lord Justice Laws noted that the case was ultimately about the censorship of political speech. Quoting from the Prolife Alliance's own facts relating to abortion, he said: 'Each year approximately 200,000 abortions are carried out in the United Kingdom, some 70% of them funded by the taxpayer.'

He described the first of the three rejected videos to the court and noted: 'It shows the products of a suction abortion: tiny limbs, bloodied and dismembered, a separated head, their human shape and form plainly recognisable. They are, I think, disturbing to any person of ordinary sensibilities. But if we are to take political free speech seriously, those characteristics cannot begin to justify the censorship.' (Guardian 2002; 15 March)

April 2002

Morning-after pill advert sparks criticism

The first advertisement for the morning-after pill has been widely criticised by both religious and pro-life groups. Due to appear in magazines for young women later this year it reads: 'Split Condom. Oops. Emergency Contraception!!! Quick. Pharmacy. Buy Levonelle . . . Phew.'

The campaign is the first since the morning-after pill, which can prevent pregnancy if it is taken up to 72 hours after sex, was licensed for sale over the counter last year. However, a spokesman for the Church of England, said: 'It's not contraception, because conception has already taken place. It's actually nearer to abortion. It would be better if the need to take it did not arise - in other words, don't get pregnant.'

In response a spokesman for the drug company marketing Levonelle said: 'Of course we are used to hearing some negative opinions about it. But we want to be responsible and try very hard not to offend.' Telegraph 2002; 24 January

Irish reject tougher abortion law

On 7 March the Republic of Ireland voted against a government proposal to tighten the country's abortion laws. The constitutional amendment, which would have removed the threat of maternal suicide as a reason to allow abortion, was rejected by a margin of under one percent.

Bertie Ahern, the Irish Premier, who had the support of the Church for his strong pro-life stance, admitted that he was very disappointed. He insisted that the close result reflected a wide spectrum of opinion on what is a very contentious issue.

The contest also reflected much confusion surrounding the proposal, and led to division in the pro-life camp as the bill only protected life from the moment of implantation, not from fertilisation. The vote arose out of a 1992 Supreme Court judgement, which ruled that a suicidal 14 year-old, who became pregnant after being raped, could have an abortion. Mr Ahern wanted to make sure that the case could not be used to liberalise Ireland's tight anti-abortion laws.

Irish doctors can only abort a pregnancy if a woman's life is in immediate danger. Abortion is not legal in cases of rape, incest or foetal abnormality. Guardian 2002; 8 March

Abortion ship loses licence

The Dutch government has refused a licence to a ship which offered abortion at sea for women in countries where the procedure is banned. The health minister said that she admired the work of the ship, which is registered in Amsterdam by the Women on the Waves foundation but added that she had no choice because it could not guarantee hospital admissions in the case of an emergency. Dutch government health inspectors were also unable regularly to visit the ship and ensure standards were adequate. A spokesperson added: 'It doesn't make any difference that the organisation is only using the abortion pill. If it goes wrong, patients need to be cared for in a proper clinic and at sea, it's just impossible.'

Last year, the ship provoked protests when it sailed to Ireland to carry out abortions off the Irish coast. However, no abortions were carried out. The organisation said it could not meet the high demand from Irish women. BMJ 2002; 324: 442; Ananova 2002; 9 February

October 2001

Dutch ship never intended to perform abortions

The staff of the Aurora, the Dutch floating reproductive health clinic previously reported in Nucleus have admitted that they never intended to perform abortions on the journey. The ship, which docked in Dublin earlier this year and carries a small clinic in a container strapped to the deck, did not have the necessary licence from authorities in the Netherlands.

The organisers were also not prepared for the level of response that the ship's visit engendered. More than 200 international journalists covered the ship's visit to Ireland - almost double the number of women who contacted the vessel seeking abortions. Many of whom later had the operation performed in England.

Dr Gunilla Kleiverda, a Dutch gynaecologist on board the Aurora, said: 'We didn't really expect to see more than two or three women. It is a pilot project to see if women were willing to come.' Nucleus 2000; October:11; BMJ 2001;322:1507, 23 June

Review ordered of abortion law in N Ireland

The Family Planning Association in Northern Ireland has been granted a judicial review of the medical practices in the province relating to abortion. The terms of the 1967 Abortion Act currently only apply in Great Britain and have never been extended to Northern Ireland. A High Court hearing in Belfast was told by the association that its application for review was not aimed at achieving a change in the law on abortion. Instead they hope to obtain an order requiring Northern Ireland's health minister to issue best practice guidelines for the medical profession as well as advice for women on the services available.

The association's director, Audrey Samson, said that, although just over 70 abortions were carried out in Northern Ireland in 1999 under a limited set of conditions permitting terminations, at least 1,500 women travelled to England each year for abortions. Pro-life groups are opposing the association's legal challenge. BMJ 2001;322:1507, 23 June

July 2001

Bush fights for the unborn child

President Bush has supported a law making violence against unborn children a crime. Although this falls short of a ban on medical abortions, it effectively grants the fetus separate legal status from the mother. The proposed law would mean that the killing or injuring of an unborn baby during a violent attack on its mother could result in a long prison sentence. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act would make it an offence to harm a fetus at any point from conception, regardless of whether the attacker knew that the woman was pregnant or whether the woman herself was seriously hurt. For the first time in nationwide American law, it would acknowledge that a fetus of any age could be an independent victim of crime. Even though the bill does not extend to medical abortion, its backers say it is necessary because, according to Tom Delay, the Republican majority whip, 'under current law, when an unborn victim is murdered in our society, no one has died'. This follows Bush's blocking of funds destined for international family-planning groups offering abortion and abortion counselling. Telegraph 2001; 29 April

Court challenge to over-the-counter abortion pill

In a challenge to recent legislation allowing the sale of the morning-after pill ver the counter of pharmacies, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is arguing that the pill effectively causes a miscarriage of a fertilised embryo in the uterus. The high court has agreed to hear SPUC's challenge that the health secretary has broken the law, by allowing over-the-counter sales of the pill. This is because the pill is available without prescription, contradicting the Abortion Act that allows only doctors to terminate pregnancies. Telegraph 2001; 3 May

Chemists warned about morning-after pill

High street chemists are being warned by letter that they could face legal action if they sell the morning-after pill to women who then experience adverse side-effects.

The pro-life organisation, Life, has asked members in all its British branches to copy the warning letter and deliver it by hand to local pharmacies. The campaign is the latest problem facing the Government in its bid to halve teenage pregnancies by 2010 by taking Levonelle off prescription for women aged 16 and over. Life's letter says that use of Levonelle 'does nothing to address the issues of low aspirations or peer pressure. It makes girls readily available to persuasive men. It will encourage sexual activity and provides no protection against sexually transmitted diseases.'

Dr Liam Fox, shadow health secretary has expressed concern about the availability of the morning-after pill without a prescription: 'My worry is not about the ability of pharmacists but about whether the high street chemist is the appropriate place for it to be given'. Judy McRae, chairman of the Royal College of Nursing's school nurses forum, argued that any 'backwards' step 'would completely undermine the hard work school nurses and family planning nurses have done with young people'. Telegraph 2001, 3 January; Telegraph 2001, 24 January

April 2001

Bush to block abortion funding

In one of the first policy moves of the new Republican Administration, President Bush has decided to block US funds to international family-planning groups that offer abortion and abortion counselling. The action, which reverses a Clinton Administration stance, was leaked on the same day that abortion opponents staged their annual march on Washington. The President's press secretary said: 'The President does not support using taxpayer funds to provide abortions.' Bush has also nominated a staunch abortion opponent for Attorney General, former Senator John Ashcroft, and signalled swift action to reverse Clinton policies supporting access to abortion.

In the UK it has emerged that a growing number of the Shadow Cabinet, including the Tory leader, now favour more restrictions on abortion. Liam Fox, the Shadow Health Secretary, who engineered meetings between William Hague and George W. Bush before he became President, is a prominent supporter of banning abortion. In the Conservative Christian Fellowship's prayer diary, he asks members 'to pray that there would be a huge restriction, if not abolition, of our pro-abortion laws'. However, a spokesman for Mr Hague said that any move to restrict abortion would continue to be subject to a free vote and would not become official party policy. Times 2001; 24 January

January 2001

Fetal Pain Debate Reopened

Prof Vivette Glover of Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London has reopened the debate about fetal awareness by calling for abortions performed between 17 and 24 weeks to be carried out under anaesthetic. Over 90% of terminations take place before week 13 but concern has resurfaced about the next eleven weeks. Prof Glover said, 'It is incredibly unlikely that the foetus could feel anything before 13 weeks because there is no linking to the brain at all. After 26 weeks it is quite probable. But between 17 and 26 it is increasingly possible that it starts to feel something and that abortions done in that period ought to use anaesthesia.'

The issue of fetal awareness has been previously reviewed in Nucleus. A 1997 report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) suggested that fetuses cannot experience pain before 26 weeks' gestation. This received substantial media attention. However, the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Fetal Sentience (the Rawlinson Report) suggested that pain may be experienced from as early as 5.5 weeks. Predictably, this received far less publicity. Telegraph 2000; 29 August; Nucleus 1998; January:2-3

Abortion pill may be sold as contraceptive

An abortion pill that is given to women who are up to nine weeks pregnant could be marketed as a contraceptive, after trials have shown it efficient at preventing pregnancy. Mifepristone (RU-486), which was only recently approved for use in the USA, starves the embryo of progesterone and is taken in pill form followed two days later by a prostaglandin which stimulates contractions and causes the abortion.Researchers, who carried out a four-month trial on 90 women, claim that the drug was largely successful in preventing ovulation and was 100 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy. They believe it could be marketed as an alternative form of contraception for women who are at risk from side-effects of the pill, such as thrombosis. They are now trying to persuade a drugs manufacturer to carry out a large-scale trial of the drug, which could lead to it becoming available commercially. However Pro-life campaigners argue that marketing an abortion pill as a contraceptive was misleading. 'If it does not stop ovulation in all cases and actually stops an embryo from growing to full term then it causes abortion. That is not contraception'. Telegraph 2000; 22 September

Morning-after pill 'a success'

Since the launch of a campaign in Manchester last year, figures suggest that over 3,000 women have requested the morning-after pill over the counter. More than 70 chemists in Greater Manchester are offering the emergency pill free of charge as part of a pilot scheme. Critics such as anti-abortion groups had voiced concern that the scheme would encourage young people to have unprotected sex, but the figures show that 55 per cent of the women requesting the drug are aged 20 to 29. Times 2000; 9 August

Cambridge students reject National Abortion Campaign

Students of Cambridge University have voted overwhelmingly to reject the affiliation of their student union to the National Abortion Campaign (NAC). The referendum in November achieved the highest ever turnout in the university and 3,341 students voted against affiliation whilst 1,827 voted in favour.

The NUS and many other student unions remain affiliated to the NAC despite similar referenda at the Universities if York, Warwick and East Anglia which have rejected the affiliation. The pro-life organisation Student Life Net (www.student lifenet.org) is now planning a campaign to encourage more student unions to disaffiliate from the NAC. Rupert Beale, Clinical Student, Cambridge University

October 2000

Abortion Reforms Rejected

A meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly expressed a rare consensus on a motion opposing the extension of the Abortion Act (1967) to Northern Ireland. The motion was proposed by Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party and supported by the SDLP, Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party and the Alliance. Only one member from the Progressive Unionist Party opposed it on the grounds that it violated a woman's right to control her body. Female members also challenged the male consensus, arguing that it would make no difference to the 2,000 women who travel to Great Britain from Ireland every year for abortions. The Women's Coalition proposed that the issue be referred to the Assembly's health committee in order to obtain evidence from doctors and other experts, but this was defeated by 43 votes to 15.

The current abortion laws in Northern Ireland are highly ambiguous and there have been many calls for the government to provide clarification. However, as a result of devolution, the laws are now the responsibility of the Assembly. Unlike the Irish Republic, abortion is permitted in cases where a substantial threat to the mother's health can be proved, in the case of severe abnormality, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

Recent figures released jointly by the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service show that 2,460 Irish women travelled to Great Britain for abortions in 1999. Twelve of these were girls less than 16 years old whilst the majority (933) were between 20 and 24. However, the IFPA claim that, in reality, the figures are actually much higher as many women provide false British addresses in order to protect their identities. Guardian 2000; 25 June; Times 2000; 10 June

Abortion Leaflet Free to Schools

The Family Planning Association have unveiled a new leaflet, Abortion - Just so you know, which aims to reassure 14 to 18 year olds that abortion is free, legal, confidential and common amongst teenagers. It states that 'a girl under 16 can give consent to an abortion without telling her parents if doctors believe she fully understands what is involved'. It also cites several reasons for having an abortion, including that the child would stop the woman 'having her own life and going to the pub'. The publication has been attacked by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children as it presents no alternative options. Britain currently has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Europe and teenagers account for one fifth of all abortions performed in this country. Times 2000; 10 June; Telegraph 2000; 10 June

Abortion Ship To Make Waves

The world's first abortion ship is about to set sail, travelling around the world performing abortions off the coasts of countries where the practice is currently outlawed. The scheme is the brainchild of Dutch doctor Rebecca Gomperts and has angered authorities in many of the targeted countries.

The ship, Sea Change, will visit South America, most of Africa, much of Asia, Poland, Malta and Ireland. It will drop anchor twelve miles offshore in international waters and therefore under Dutch law. Women will be ferried out to the vessel by boat. It is expected that 5,000 women per year will make use of the service, which will be free to most women. The ship will stay in one place for six months and arrive unannounced so as to reduce the risk of attacks by anti-abortionists. It will also be equipped with state of the art security equipment and will have 24 hour security patrols. Dr Gomperts plans to sail the world 'until abortion is legalised everywhere'. A two month pilot programme is likely to get underway later this year. Guardian 2000; 26 June

July 2000

Morning-after pill free to schoolgirls

Schoolgirls are being offered the morning-after-pill in pharmacies without a prescription. This pilot scheme, being run in Manchester, is the second stage of a study where the pill is being made available free of charge. Girls under the age of consent will be given the pill, but only if the chemist is satisfied that they understand the consequences of their request. The scheme is in response to demands by doctors, pharmacists and family planning groups, and could soon be spread nationwide.

In what has been called the 'ultimate form of contraception', girls and boys aged thirteen were given babies to look after for a television programme designed to discourage under-age sex. The programme 'Borrow a baby' will be screened on Channel Four. Times 2000; 9 March; Times 2000; 10 March; Times 2000; 8 January

Abortion rates rise after Y2K

The aftermath of the millennium celebrations has led to a record 20% rise in the number of abortions performed in the UK so far this year. The rise was blamed on the closure of many clinics and GP surgeries over the festive period, leading to a difficulty in obtaining emergency contraception. This news coincides with an all-party parliamentary pro-choice group report claiming that women face 'significant delays and obstacles' when seeking to end a pregnancy. The group found that three out of ten women got no help at all from their doctor when they asked for an abortion.

However, pro-life activists point to the example of an aborted 22-week baby which survived for 80 minutes while hospital staff waited for it to die in Darwin, Australia last month. Such incidents are by no means uncommon in the UK. Last year a normal baby was aborted at Birmingham City Hospital at just under twenty three weeks gestation, because tests had shown he might suffer from Down's Syndrome. He lived for two hours. Times 2000; 2 March; Times 2000; 11 April

Surrogate refuses abortion

Controversy over the lack of worldwide regulation of baby surrogacy has arisen after twin girls were born without identifiable parents, either legally or biologically. Both the sperm and egg used to conceive Danielle and Emma in Greece were from anonymous donors, and when the Italian man and his Portuguese wife, who had taken out a contract with a British surrogate mother, Clare Austin, discovered that the children would be girls they demanded an abortion. Ms Austin, who was 21 weeks pregnant, said she would oblige, but instead travelled to California where she gave birth and handed the children over to a lesbian couple for adoption. Times 2000; 8 May

April 2000

Free Morning-After-Pill Trial

85,000 women between 16 and 29 years of age are to be offered five free packs of the morning-after-pill in 100 GP practices and family planning clinics in Lothian. This follows on from plans last summer by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service which allows women to buy the pill in advance. The BMA and the RCOG support over-the-counter sales of the morning-after-pill, which may act to prevent implantation of a fertilised egg. Drug companies are reluctant to produce it because of opposition from pro-life supporters. Telegraph 1999; 2 September; BMJ 1999;319:661, 11 September

Contraception and abortion in the third world

Increasing contraceptive availability means that 50% of couples in the developing world use contraception, compared to just 10% in the 1960's. In Africa, however, usage is only 18%. Total fertility has fallen from 6 children to just over 3. However, abortion rates are rising unprecedentedly. 35 million abortions are performed annually in developing countries, and 1 in 4 births are unwanted. More than 150 million women have an unmet need for contraception; annual global spending on family planning is £3.75 billion, but only 37% of the funding actually goes on family planning services. BMJ 1999;319:932-933, 9 October

US passes anti-abortion law

The US state of Missouri has passed a law making partial-birth abortions (where the cervix is dilated and the fetus is partially extracted before its skull is collapsed) illegal. The law defines infanticide (which is a felony) as any act causing death of a fetus (of any age) outside or partially outside the uterus. Abortion is defined as when a baby is killed inside its mother. The measure does not provide an exception protecting the health of the woman, and the state has been charged with passing an unconstitutional law. Illinois and Wisconsin have a similar law that has been upheld as constitutional, whereas others were overturned in Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas.

Although the law is not aimed at abortion itself (partial-birth abortion is very rare), the fetus is being considered as a person for the first time in criminal proceedings. BMJ 1999;319:874, 2 October; BMJ 1999;319;1220, 6 November; Telegraph 1999; 10 October

Objection to Abortion

The BMA has amended its guidance on abortion to take account of the resolution passed by the 1999 Annual Meeting, which abhorred harassment or discrimination against doctors 'who conscientiously object to participation in terminations of pregnancy'. Doctors with a conscientious objection must now make their views known to patients seeking terminations and should ensure that the treatment or advice they provide is not affected by their personal views. BMJ 1999;319:593,4 September

Public to be given say in life of embryo

The HFEA has published a consultation document asking the public which diseases are serious enough to warrant an abortion. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is already used for families who are at high risk of having a baby with a serious genetic disorder such as cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy. The HFEA has decided that PGD is only acceptable for life-threatening medical disorders and must not be used for sex-selection or physical, social or psychological characteristics. There is concern that embryo selection will become more and more acceptable and pregnancies will be prevented for increasingly trivial medical conditions. Telegraph 1999; 28 November

October 1999

60% of GPs support abortion on demand

A study by the pro-abortion group Marie Stopes International has revealed that the number of GPs who support 'abortion on demand' has increased over the past 25 years. 60% of family doctors now believe a woman should be able automatically to have an abortion in the first three months of pregnancy if she wants it. In 1973, the figure was 24%. Pro-abortion campaigners will use the figures to support a call for the law to be changed in favour of abortion on demand for women in their first three months of pregnancy. They also want GPs to be obliged to declare any conscientious objections to abortion and to refer women to a doctor who does not hold the same view.

More than eight out of ten GPs described themselves as 'broadly pro-choice', with most of the rest - one in five - 'broadly anti-abortion'. Of the latter group, a fifth said they supported a woman's 'right to choose'. Three-quarters of GPs thought women should be entitled to free NHS abortions. The report stated; 'We are disturbed by the finding that a significant minority of GPs may be imposing their own moral standards and values on women, causing distress, delay and financial hardship'. Life, a leading pro-life charity, said the report was 'extremely suspect'.

New figures from the WHO have put the worldwide number of abortions at 50 million a year, with 30 million occurring in the developing world. 40% are unsafe and 90% of the unsafe abortions occur in the Third World. Data gathered from many countries show that the deaths are caused more by social and legal considerations than inadequate health care. Abortion is illegal in 94% of the developing countries studied, making it necessary for women to seek illegal and dangerous help.

Of the 600,000 maternal deaths worldwide every year, between one third and a half result from abortion complications, and millions of women are left traumatised and mutilated; victims of inertia and fatalism.

There were a record 170,000 abortions in England and Wales alone last year, and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has just launched a scheme to prescribe the 'morning-after pill' to women before they have unprotected sex and risk unplanned pregnancy. Telegraph 1999; 23 June; BMJ 1999;318:1509, 5 June; BMJ 1999;318:1526, 5 June; Telegraph 1999; 3 July

July 1999

Abortions increase in Russia

The economic crisis in Russia has caused the price of contraceptives to soar, leading to a rise in the already huge number of abortions performed. Russia's population is on the decline, dropping by about half a million every year, largely due to the very high abortion rates. In 1997, 2.5 million abortions were carried out, twice the number of children born in the same period. 1998 figures show the same trend (only Romania carries out more abortions than the number of live births). Abortion is available free on demand at most hospitals and clinics in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy and all that is required to qualify women for abortion up to 22 weeks are social indicators such as cramped living conditions or marital difficulties. This relaxed abortion law and the soaring price of contraceptives have encouraged more women to risk becoming pregnant and to use abortion as a form of contraception. There is a concurrent explosion in sexually transmitted diseases as Russians are reluctant to use barrier methods of contraception. 1 in 8 couples now suffer infertility, as abortions are performed badly, with 40% of operations resulting in complications requiring antibiotics or hospital admission. Sunday Telegraph 1999; 24 January

Abortion may be recriminalised in the US

Abortion may be recriminalised in the US in the next few years according to the American Journal of Public Health. Calculations from data collected in the 1970s, when abortion was first legalised, suggest that as many as 440,000 extra births might occur each year. Am J Pub Hlth 1999;89:199-203

US anti-abortion activists blacklist abortion doctors

US anti-abortion activists have been putting up 'wanted'-style posters and operating a website known as 'the Nuremberg Files'. This lists the names, addresses and personal details of 255 doctors who have been or are performing abortions. The website and posters display blood-dripping fetuses, announce the doctors are 'guilty of crimes against humanity', label them 'baby butchers' and list them as 'working', 'wounded' or 'fatality'. The American Coalition of Life Activists, the Advocates for Life Ministries and prominent members of the US anti-abortion movement have been successfully sued for $108 million by the listed doctors and several family-planning groups, over the incitement and threats of violence made. In the last 20 years, there have been seven murders, 15 attempted murders, 154 arson incidents and 39 bombings involving abortion workers or clinics, according to the National Abortion Federation. BMJ 1999;318:214, 23 January; BMJ 1999;318:415, 13 February; Daily Telegraph 1999; 9 January; Daily Telegraph 1999; February 4

Cardinal Hume speaks out on abortion

In the UK, Cardinal Basil Hume has cautioned anti-abortionists against militancy and intolerance and warned about the current rise in abortion. He has also highlighted the dangers of eugenics and genetic science, called for an end to society's obsession with sex, an end to pornography and has encouraged people to put the intimacy back into marriage. The Scottish Roman Catholic Cardinal has offered amnesty to women who have had abortions and the medical staff involved by granting parish priests permission to absolve them from their sin. Roman Catholics who aid or have abortions are automatically excommunicated unless forgiveness is sought from a bishop. This promise came as the 107th baby was born under a two-year old Glasgow pro-life scheme aiming to encourage women considering abortion to give birth instead. Daily Telegraph 1999; 11 March; Sunday Telegraph 1999; 21 March

April 1999

Abortion in Bavaria and Ireland

The Catholic state of Bavaria in Germany has been forced to lift its abortion restrictions after Germany's highest court ruled that they were unlawful. Five doctors who together perform more than half of all Bavarian abortions brought a petition against the abortion laws to the court, and also aim to overturn the ruling preventing a doctor from earning more than 25% of his income from abortions.

The number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortions has reached its highest level ever. Abortion is illegal in Ireland unless doctors judge the pregnant woman to be suicidal. A recent survey has shown that attitudes towards sex before marriage are becoming much more liberal, especially among the young. BMJ 1998;317:1272, 7 November; BMJ 1999;318:77, 9 January

Teenage and unmarried pregnancies

Recent research by the Government has revealed that the conception rate for teenage girls has risen by 11%. The survey, Birth Statistics 1997, has shown that three quarters of the pregnant girls were 15 years old, and more than half had had abortions. There has also been an increase in the number of children born outside marriage from 23% ten years ago to 37% now.

Boots, the chemist chain store, has set up the first family planning clinic in a Glasgow pharmacy. This is part of an attempt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies by making services more accessible. It is hoped that emergency contraception will be available over the counter at such clinics, reducing the number of abortions. However, pro-life groups are unhappy and suggest that this will encourage teenagers to have underage and premarital sex.

The Family Planning Association has launched a new initiative to get the message of safe sex across to university students. About £1000 worth of ten pence pieces have been scattered in 96 union bars, and when picked up, the coins are found to have a sticker describing the dangers of unprotected sex on the back. The combination of cash and beer has proved to be successful, and many students have found the coins and read the message. The Telegraph 1998; 12 December; BMJ 1998;317:1612, 12 December; The Telegraph 1998; 11 December

January 1999

Students' views on abortion

A study of 300 university students has found that most of them believe that it is morally wrong to abort a baby that would be born disabled. According to the Pro-Choice Forum survey, abortion of Down's syndrome babies was perceived as especially wrong. However, 75% believe the current abortion laws are not liberal enough and say that abortion should not be restricted by legal means, and only a few disapprove of abortion for convenience. 76% of students were in favour of abortion in general, with only 4% against.

On the other hand, the Spanish have rejected an abortion bill that would have allowed abortion on demand within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The Telegraph 1998, 26 August; BMJ 1998;317:902, 3 October

Fetuses to be given painkillers

The Government is considering drawing up new guidelines that would require the administration of pain-killing drugs to fetuses before abortion or intra-uterine surgery. The new guidelines would deal with a legal anomaly that protects unborn animals against scientific experiments, but allows operations and abortions to be performed on human fetuses. Under the 1968 Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act, experiments cannot be carried out on animal fetuses from mid-gestation to specifically protect 'any living vertebrate other than man'. The Telegraph 1998; 9 August

October 1998

Abortion

The US House of Representatives voted in June to ban the testing, development or approval of any drug that chemically induces abortion. The House is also considering legislation to make it illegal to take an underage girl across state lines for an abortion if her home state has a law requiring parental consent.

Misoprostol, the prostaglandin analogue for treating peptic ulcers, is being used by three-quarters of Brazilian women to terminate their pregnancies. It is available over the counter, and children who survive misoprostol use seem to have a high rate of congenital abnormalities.

Five Miami abortion clinics were attacked recently with butyric acid poured through letterboxes. Three patients required treatment of injuries sustained. These attacks came after Florida pro-lifers were banned from bearing 'Choose Life' licence tags on their cars.

The Wellcome Trust and the Population Council have called for an increase in the use of medical abortions to reduce the 70,000 deaths a year caused by surgical abortions performed in unsafe conditions.

Western Australia now has the most liberal abortion law in the country after a new bill was passed allowing abortions to be performed up to 20 weeks' gestation. The mother's informed consent is required, and the abortion can be performed if serious personal, family or social consequences will ensue if the pregnancy continues, or if there is a serious danger to the mother's physical or mental health. Abortion after 20 weeks is permissible but only if a panel of six (including two doctors) agree that a severe medical condition of mother or child justifies the procedure.

The Scottish Parliament wants the power to set its own abortion law. Currently, Westminster determines the UK abortion law and government ministers are attempting to avoid conflict with the Catholic Church of Scotland. Ministers are afraid that the Scottish Parliament would pass a more restrictive law, leading to 'abortion fugitives' across the border. Lancet 1998;352:45, 4 July; BMJ 1998;317:222, 18 July; BMJ 1998;316:1626, 30 May; BMJ 1998;317:230, 25 July; Lancet 1998;351:1714, 6 June; Telegraph 1998, 9 July

July 1998

Abortion

Two thirds of Irish women with unwanted pregnancies opt to keep their children with only a third (who are mainly unmarried) having their pregnancies terminated in Britain. Overall the Irish abortion rate in 1995 was 8.5% of all pregnancies (25% of pregnancies in unmarried women and 2% in married women).

A group of pro-abortion MPs have backed the Voice for Choice campaign for abortion on request under 14 weeks. A Commons motion put down by Gareth Thomas, Labour MP for Harrow West, demanded that 'doctors with an ethical objection should be obliged to declare it'.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of the BMA's policy research department which covers ethics, said in response that 'Doctors are already under an ethical obligation to make it clear to patients if they have an objection to abortion and they must refer women to someone else'. There is, however, no legal obligation currently to refer. BMJ 1998;316:882, 21 March; Hospital Doctor 1998, 7 May:5

April 1998

Abortion

United States
In a landmark ruling the Supreme Court of South Carolina has ruled that a viable fetus is a person and covered by state child abuse laws. The surprise judgement followed an appeal by Cornelia Whitner, now 33, to have a criminal child neglect conviction overthrown on the grounds that her fetus might not legally be considered a person. Whitner had been sentenced to eight years imprisonment in 1992 (though was released after 16 months) for giving birth to a baby who had traces of cocaine in his blood.

The president of the South Carolina Medical Association, Dr Nelson Weston, called the decision 'unfortunate' as it made 'a viable fetus the same as a person'. Ms Whitner is appealing to the US Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the US Senate has confirmed President Clinton's nominee, Dr David Satcher as Surgeon General. Dr Satcher, presently director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a supporter of late term partial birth abortions. In a rather ironic twist, the BMJ records the CDC as reporting the 1995 US abortion rate at 20 per 1,000 live births. In fact the true level (one in five) is higher by a factor of ten! BMJ 1997;315:1488, 6 December; BMJ 1998;316:572, 21 February; BMJ 1997;315:1560, 13 December

Australia
Two Western Australian (WA) doctors have been charged over an abortion, in a move that will reignite the debate in that country. Abortion is strictly unlawful in all Australian jurisdictions, yet the body of case law allows certain provisions: serious danger to the mother's physical or mental health, as well as possible financial hardship, make abortion permissible. The WA Director of Public Prosecutions holds abortion to be legal only when the mother's life is in danger. No such prosecutions have been made for over 20 years, during which 80,000 abortions have been performed. Supporters of abortion have concern that similar prosecutions may be carried out in other states. A petition, signed by female parliamentarians, has labelled the ruling draconian and hostile. Lancet 1998;351:578, 21 February

Contraception failures

The Department of Health has advised GPs that the contraceptive device Persona may have an unacceptably high failure rate for some couples. After an investigation, the Medical Devices Agency stated: 'Persona is basically a test-based form of the rhythm method of contraception'. Persona, which has been bought by 100,000 British women, is being blamed for 60 abortions (following failed contraception) each month.

The Contraceptive Service's Emergency Contraceptive Pack was launched on 11 February. The poster, leaflet and 'credit card' campaign is advocating emergency 'contraception' up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and the IUD up to five days after. Obviously the later the intervention, the more likely that the mechanism of action will be prevention of implantation (ie abortifacient) rather than prevention of conception.

Meanwhile the medical director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Dr Jerry Edwards, has devised a hand-held syringe technique that will enable women to have abortions as early as eight days after conception. BMJ 1998;316:168, 17 January; The Times 1998; 10 January:7; CES Press Release 1998, 30 January; The Times 1997; 22 December:13

January 1998

Calls for abortion in Northern Ireland

Calls have been made to extend the UK 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland, led by a group called the Alliance for Choice. They estimate that since the passing of the Act, over 60,000 women have travelled to the UK for abortions. An extension to the act would not be considered until a Northern Ireland MP calls for it. This is seen as unlikely at present by the advocates for change; reasons given are church opposition and all-male MPs. Lancet 1997;350:1377, 8 November

Fetal Rights?

On 31 October, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against Manitoba's social services department for confining a pregnant woman with a solvent habit for the purpose of protecting her unborn child. Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin wrote that confinement would violate 'the most sacred sphere of personal liberty - the right of every person to live and move in freedom... A pregnant woman and her unborn child are one. To make orders protecting fetuses would radically impinge on the fundamental liberties of the mother'. Lancet 1997;350:1377, 8 November

October 1997

Moves to enable 'late' and 'lunchtime' abortions

US federal funding may be restricted on Medicaid programs which include abortion as a covered benefit. This will not affect other managed-care plans. In May, the Senate defeated a proposed ban on all abortions after fetal viability.

In 1994 there were 94 terminations after 24 weeks gestation in Britain. According to retired obstetrician and gynaecologist, David Paintin, late termination is sometimes necessary 'to enable the woman to avoid the considerable long-term burden of providing care for a severely handicapped child'. Paintin recently co-authored a strongly worded letter to the BMJ defending legal abortion in Britain and insisting that British doctors were not 'acting like Nazis' by ending the lives of four million unborn children since 1968.

Meanwhile a new 'lunchtime abortion service' for busy women is being launched by Marie Stopes International in London, Leeds and Manchester. Private patients will pay £285 for the ten minute procedure. Lancet 1997; 314:1362; Lancet 1997; 349:1528; Br J Obs and Gynae 1997; 104:398-400; BMJ 1997; 314:1623; The Times, 28 June1997, p1

July 1997

BMA revises Hippocratic oath to sanction abortion

The BMA has produced the first draft of a revised Hippocratic Oath which it hopes will be adopted by the World Medical Association in 1998. The original Hippocratic Oath, which has guided doctors since 500BC, states 'I will... not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion'. The new version signals the recent shift in ethics with the affirmation: 'Where abortion is permitted, I agree that it should take place only within an ethical and legal framework'.

In 1983 the WMA revised the 1948 Declaration of Geneva which read 'I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception'. The new version employs instead the phrase 'life from its beginning' with 'beginning' being left conveniently undefined.

Britain was the first Western European country outside Scandinavia legally to sanction abortion in 1967. The BMA has recently endorsed its support for the Abortion Act as 'a humane piece of legislation'. Some 175,000 abortions are performed under the Act every year. BMA Annual Report of Council 1996-97, p10, 11, 26

In contrast, the Finnish Medical Association's draft 'Declaration on the Rights of the Unborn Child' was circulated by the WMA to its membership last October. It stipulates that 'the life of an individual human being begins with conception...' and says that 'the right to life is the most basic of all rights and belongs also to the fetus in a mother's womb....' Humanity April 1997, p9

April 1997

Roussel-Uclaf drop production of 'abortion pill'

Warnings of boycotts by American pro-lifers have led the French pharmaceutical company Roussel-Uclaf, subsidiary of the German company Hoechst, to stop production and distribution of mifepristone (RU486), the 'abortion pill'.

RU486 was introduced as a medical abortifacient in France in 1987 and is currently opted for by about a quarter of French women seeking abortions. The drug is also freely available in the UK and Sweden and is produced in China. Approaches to American firms had been unsuccessful.

Hoechst have transferred patent rights, without charge, to Dr Edouard Sarkiz, one of the pill's developers. He has formed a small non-profit company, Exelgyn, to continue production and distribution. The discoverer, Professor Etienne Baulieu, thinks it may have applications in wound and burn treatment and as a male contraceptive. BMJ 1997; 314:1150

January 1997

Partial birth abortions cleared

A succession of stories about abortion have refocussed attention on the issue here. In July an early day motion was set down in the House of Commons by Elizabeth Peacock MP, decrying the use of partial abortions. This technique (recently sanctioned by President Clinton) involves incompletely delivering the live baby in breech position and then aspirating the cranial contents while the head is still in the birth canal.

Married professional has twin baby selectively aborted

In August Professor Philip Bennett of Queen Charlotte's Hospital London admitted selectively killing a second trimester twin fetus in utero. The mother, a married professional, apparently only wanted one baby. Following this, Mandy Allwood, an unmarried mother carrying eight fetuses after treatment with fertility drugs was offered £1,000,000 for her story by a tabloid newspaper provided all babies survived. None did.

Report on fetal sentience published

On October 21 the Commission of Inquiry into Fetal Sentience published a review of more than 70 scientific papers and reports on fetal pain perception. Assessments for the gestation when a fetus is first conscious of noxious stimuli ranged from six to 26 weeks . This report followed that of the all-party Parliamentary Pro-Life group and another from Queen Charlotte's Hospital both giving ten weeks as the threshold. The findings have fuelled calls for fetal analgesia during prenatal surgery and abortion. Bull Med Ethics July/August 1996; Independent 22/10/96

Abortion figures worldwide

Abortions world-wide currently exceed 50 million per year; a number equivalent to the total annual deaths from all other causes combined. 'Unsafe' abortions (ie. for the mother) still cause about 80,000 maternal deaths each year worldwide; making the procedure the only widely accepted intervention with a greater than 100% mortality. In developed countries maternal mortality fell to present levels long before abortion became legal due to antibiotics and improved hospital care. Clin Obs Gyn 1996;13:1-17; IPPF Medical Bulletin,October 1996;30:5; WHO Press Release 7,5/2/96

Guernsey legalises abortion

Abortion remains illegal now in only 65 of the world's countries. Meanwhile the island of Guernsey has become the last area of Britain to legalise the practice. Its government voted 34 to 20 to allow terminations up to the 12th week of pregnancy, provided two doctors give consent. The ruling follows that of Jersey two years before. BMJ 1996;313:1164

South African abortion bill

October also saw the South African Parliament pass an abortion bill without a conscientious objection clause. This means that doctors who refuse to do abortions or who refuse to refer could face jail sentences. In the face of similar pressure to conform, the apostles chose to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

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2004 - current

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1997 - 1999

Controversy over 14 year old’s abortion

Legal status of the fetus altered in the US

Curate wins abortion review

Reaction to partial-birth abortion in the US

Abortion for 'serious handicap' brought into question

Abortion may increase women's mortality rate

Accusations over easy abortions

BBC wrong to ban Prolife broadcast

Morning-after pill advert sparks criticism

Irish reject tougher abortion law

Abortion ship loses licence

Dutch ship never intended to perform abortions

Review ordered of abortion law in N Ireland

Bush fights for the unborn child

Court challenge to over-the-counter abortion pill

Chemists warned about morning-after pill

Bush to block abortion funding

Fetal Pain Debate Reopened

Abortion pill may be sold as contraceptive

Morning-after pill 'a success'

Cambridge students reject National Abortion Campaign

Abortion Reforms Rejected

Abortion Leaflet Free to Schools

Abortion Ship To Make Waves

Morning-after pill free to schoolgirls

Abortion rates rise after Y2K

Surrogate refuses abortion

Free Morning-After-Pill Trial

Contraception and abortion in the third world

US passes anti-abortion law

Objection to Abortion

Public to be given say in life of embryo

60% of GPs support abortion on demand

Abortions increase in Russia

Abortion may be recriminalised in the US

US anti-abortion activists blacklist abortion doctors

Cardinal Hume speaks out on abortion

Abortion in Bavaria and Ireland

Teenage and unmarried pregnancies

Students' views on abortion

Fetuses to be given painkillers

Abortion

Abortion

Abortion

Contraception failures

Calls for abortion in Northern Ireland

Fetal Rights?

Moves to enable 'late' and 'lunchtime' abortions

BMA revises Hippocratic oath to sanction abortion

Roussel-Uclaf drop production of 'abortion pill'

Partial birth abortions cleared

Married professional has twin baby selectively aborted

Report on fetal sentience published

Abortion figures worldwide

Guernsey legalises abortion

South African abortion bill