Background
Abortion has been defined as 'The premature expulsion of the foetus from the womb' before pregnancy reaches full term (40 wks). There are two forms of abortion:
- Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion: this happens naturally. Up to 50% of conceptions end this way, usually in the first few months, often without the mother knowing she was pregnant.
- Procured abortion: deliberately ending the pregnancy; an operation to remove the foetus from the womb.
On this site, we will use abortion to refer to a procured abortion. However, knowing the difference may help you understand why some sources make claims like ' a majority of pregnancies end in abortion'.
Abortion and the Law
Before 1967, abortion was illegal in the UK. However, backstreet abortions were done, often ending in permanent injury or death. The 1967 Abortion Actwas introduced to provide a safe alternative to backstreet abortions. It was amended in 1990.
The law only allows abortion if…..
- 2 registered doctors examine the woman and agree to the abortion.
- Her mental or physical health is at risk if she goes through with the pregnancy.
- Existing children may suffer if another baby arrives.
Although the law was intended to limit abortion to ‘serious’ cases, Britain has effectively got ‘abortion on demand’. Doctors in abortion clinics will allow women to have an abortion under any circumstances if that is their choice, and the conditions above are vague enough to allow this to happen.
Abortions must be done before “viability”, when a baby can live on it outside its mother’s womb:
- 1967 - 28 weeks
- 1990 – changed to 24 weeks
Many people, including a lot of Christians, believe that the date of ‘viability’ should be reduced to 20 weeks, as some babies have survived from this stage. In practice, very few doctors will perform an abortion after 20 weeks except under extreme circumstances.
Abortion is allowed up to birth if the baby is mentally or physically handicapped, or if the mother’s life is at risk.
