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Doctors opposing abortion limit cut
7:00pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
Comments (3)DOCTORS in Dorset are against a move to cut the abortion limit from 24 to 20 weeks.
The abortion debate has been re-ignited by the tabling of an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in parliament.
But the call has not been welcomed by the government or the British Medical Association (BMA).
Press officer for the BMA in East Dorset Dr Tom McKinstry said: "The limit has been working quite well as it is so I don't think there is any need to change it.
"It is distressing to have a termination in the last few weeks so we don't want to be doing that if we can avoid it but it is better to have the choice.
"In this area it is very rare to have an abortion up to the limit as there is good access to GPs."
He added that a study out this week would show that there has been no improvement in the survival rate of babies born at 24 weeks.
The FPA also oppose this reduction believing it has been introduced by people who are anti abortion and want to restrict women's ability to get them.
Spokesman Rebecca Findlay said: "Almost 90 per cent of abortions are carried on in the first 13 weeks so we are only talking about a small percentage of women.
"Women have an abortion after 20 weeks for various reasons: finding out they are pregnant late, which is more common in very young women or those going through the menopause, being delayed by the NHS in their attempts to get an abortion, discovering their baby is disabled or suffering some trauma in their life meaning they could not cope with a baby."
She said the organisation was committed to maintaining the right to safe, legal abortions and thinks that a lower limit would mean an increase in women obtaining illegal abortions.
However Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire Nadine Dorries said: "Britain has 600 abortions a day. That is just too many - we must slow down on abortion.
"I respect a woman's right to choose. But we are close to being the abortion capital of the world and it is now time to adopt a more moderate, common sense approach to abortion."
Jo Whittaker from Bournemouth, whose two-year-old daughter was born at 27 weeks, supports the move.
She said: "People don't realise that babies can survive at 24 weeks. I know of a couple of people who had babies then and they are doing really well. Obviously there has to be a cut off somewhere, but from my experience 24 weeks is far too late."
- In 2006, 1,066 abortions were carried out in Bournemouth and Poole and 760 in Dorset.
Seventy nine under-18s had abortions in Bournemouth and Poole and 87 in Dorset.
Your Say YourBournemouth Echo
Adrian X, Poole says...
12:58pm Wed 7 May 08
In short I feel that practicality considerations and the future baby's quality of life should over-ride the moral and ethical 'principles', which too often ignore the individuals rights and interests and appear to have more to do with political fashion and religious beliefs.
Which individual? There are two involved. Does the mother have higher rights than her growing baby?
Maria, christchurch says...
2:23pm Wed 7 May 08
AGAINST: Dr Tom McKinstry
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HAL101, Bournemouth says...
9:28pm Tue 6 May 08
This is such an emotive subject that it is difficult to reach an agreement that all are happy with and it is quite surprising that we are allow to comment on it.
At present it seems that if a foetus can survive after an abortion/birth then it is consider murder to let it die through neglect. So this is the age limit of abortion. However as any baby will die if neglected this seems a vague condition. Also, if an embryo or foetus is left in the womb then it should survive. So to remove it could be regarded as murder, regardless of whether or not it can survive.
I suggest that the time limit is made flexible so that where the creation of another baby is really unwanted (such as a menopausal woman in poor health and difficult circumstances, or a very young school girl determined on a profession and career) the age limit should be higher than in the circumstances of a woman who just simply wants to delay a family for a couple of years because her husband is into clubbing.
I also feel that the people who will look after the baby should be given considerable influence over the final decision.
In short I feel that practicality considerations and the future baby's quality of life should over-ride the moral and ethical 'principles', which too often ignore the individuals rights and interests and appear to have more to do with political fashion and religious beliefs.