Abortion

Question 1

What law covers abortion?

Answer 1

The Abortion Act 1967

Question 2

What legal criteria reasons are there to have an abortion?

Answer 2

A - The continuation of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant women greater than if the pregnancy was terminated

B - The termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the woman

C - The pregnancy has NOT exceeded its 24th week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve greater risk than if the pregnancy was terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman

D - Same as C but to any existing children of the family of the pregnant woman

E - There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped

Question 3

Ethical considerations about abortion

Answer 3

Fetus has no right to autonomy

Non malificence - no harm to a person

Beneficence - does good to the one patient

Justice - enables women to contribute to society

Question 4

How is a termination of >24 weeks different?

Answer 4

At this point it is a more specialised procedure requiring Fetacide as well as termination so must be carried out in an NHS hospital