Blair Suggests Re-Examining Abortion in UK
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair recently made comments that it might be time to look at further reducing the number of weeks at which abortion is allowed in the UK.
Compared to the United States, the UK has rather restrictive abortion laws. Abortion is only allowed until the 24th week unless there is evidence that the fetus will suffer from severe disabilities. Even then, a woman has to have two doctors sign off approval for the abortion procedure.
Apparently a new ultrasound technique resulted in video of a 12-week old fetus moving in the womb. According to the BBC, in response to that Blair said,
I have not had an opportunity myself to study in detail that evidence that has been provided. But I am sure that if the situation does change then it would be advisable for us to have another look at the whole question. If the scientific evidence has shifted then it is obviously sensible for us to take that into account. If we have proposals to put before the House we will put them.
Lord Steel, who was primarily responsible for the 1967 Act that legalized abortion in the UK, is currently pushing to have the 24-week limit reduced to 22 weeks and to remove the requirement that women have two doctors sing off on the abortion.
Source:
Blair hints at abortion rethink. The BBC, July 7, 2004.
The Blair Suggests Re-Examining Abortion in UK by Brian Carnell, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.
Tags: Great Britain
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