Is the law relaxing on abortions?
MPs are discussing the possibility of the biggest shake-up of abortion laws for 40 years.
They will propose that women be allowed to seek an abortion without having to get two signatures from doctors and also allowing the second stage of a medical abortion to be carried out at home.
They will also be looking to allow nurses to carry out abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy rather than doctors.
The Commons Science and Technology Committee will consider changes to abortion laws later this month. Yesterday members of the committee concluded an inquiry into abortion laws and it is thought they will back attempts to make abortion easier for women.
The report is also likely to imply that current research backs the upper limit of abortions to stay at 24 weeks and does not support a lower limit. One member of the committee said: "Most babies born at 22 weeks do not survive. If they do, they are likely to have severe abnormalities. Most at 23 weeks will not survive."
The anti-abortion campaign group ProLife Alliance, wants the upper limit cut to 20 weeks. Anti-abortion MPs will also seek to toughen the law by lowering the upper age limit for abortions.
According to the Department of Health, there were 193,000 abortions in England and Wales last year, of which 89 per cent were performed in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Thanks to The Times, 25/10/07
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Last Modified: 25/10/2007
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