UK Abortion Act 50 years on: freedom of choice or going too far?

By Dr  Rachel Brown

This year marks 50 years since the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act, which legalises abortions in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Some see this anniversary as a celebration, viewing the Act as a progressive step towards women’s rights over their own bodies. Others no doubt remain indignant at the law, incensed by the implication an abortion has on the sanctity of life.

And that’s fine – it’s not my ambition change anyone’s minds about the rights and wrongs of abortion. Each person is entitled to their views and – as far as I am concerned – entitled to judge or argue with those who disagree with them.

But that you have a choice and freedom to exercise your opinion IS the point of this piece.

The Abortion Act does not dictate how women should act – no one is forced to have an abortion. Rather, what it does do is provide women with a choice.

A choice for those who have been raped to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. A choice for those whose child will never survive out of the womb to avoid what can only be a tortuous pregnancy and birth. And yes, my own personal view aside, perhaps also a choice for those who simply made a regrettable decision one night.

All too often people equate pro-choice with being anti-life. However, that’s a false dichotomy – nothing in life is that simple. That being said, if you believe that in no circumstance should you have an abortion, then by all means exercise that right.

No one is stopping you.

But in many counties across the world, those who would choose otherwise are being stopped.

You do not have to go too far either. The 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland, where abortion remains illegal in almost all cases, except where a doctor acts ‘only to save the life of the mother’ or if there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health.

Abortions to terminate a pregnancy that results from rape or incest, or in cases of severe or fatal foetal abnormalities, can come with a sentence of life imprisonment – the harshest criminal penalty for abortion in any European country. According to a report by Women on Waves, 25% of all women across the world are in a similar situation – many countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia also have highly restrictive abortion laws.

Last week, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission took an appeal to the Supreme Court to which argued that cases of rape, incest, or serious foetal anomaly is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Its notable that numerous charities and women’s rights organisations – including Amnesty International – have supported the appeal, saying that the current legal framework in Northern Ireland is inhumane and damaging to women in need of abortion care.

The case has come under attack from anti-abortion campaigners, and I am sympathetic – truly – to those who are uncomfortable or upset with abortion being legal.

However, the sad reality is that women have always sought ways to have abortions, and will continue to do so regardless of its legality.

According to a Guardian Article last week, abortion was the leading cause of maternal deaths before the 1967 act was passed, with between 50 and 60 women dying each year.  The Department of Health’s abortion statistics state that 724 Northern Irish women travelled to England or Wales last year to have a termination.  These statistics do not even tell the full story, as others buy illegal abortion drugs online, taking them with no medical supervision. I raise this to illustrate the lengths to which many women will go to terminate a pregnancy in cases where it is forbidden.

I do not believe abortion should be considered as a form of contraception, and think that sexual education should play a vital role in reducing abortion rates. In this case, I hope we can all agree that there is a better way to address unwanted pregnancies.

However, I also believe in the freedom of choice, and feel strongly that in cases of rape or where the foetus will never survive outside of the womb it is inhumane to force someone to continue a pregnancy. I do not think that in these situations abortion equates to murder, and think that permitting legal abortions protects women from dangerous attempts to end the pregnancy without medical supervision.

What are your views on the Abortion Act?  Do you think it should be updated?   Do you think it goes too far?  What do you think about using abortion as a form of contraception?

Read More:

The UK Abortion Act

Global women – Marie Stopes, UK’s largest abortion provider, will turn away Irish women