MEDICAL LAW

Medical Law



Medical Law

If you were an MP, voting on a free vote in the House of Commons, explain what reforms, if any, to the current law on Abortion in the UK you would support.

Introduction

An abortion is the finish of a pregnancy so that you do not have a child. Sometimes you might discover it being called a “termination of pregnancy” or just a “termination”. Miscarriages, when the pregnancy terminates routinely, are often referred to as a “Spontaneous Abortion”. In numerous parts of the UK, abortions are accessible on the NHS and there is no charge. The abortion may be carried out at an NHD hospital or at a expert abortion clinic. Your GP or localized family designing service can mention you for a free NHS abortion. It is also possible to have an abortion carried out privately, in which case you would pay for the abortion yourself. Complete the pattern on the right, if you would like an advisor to communicate you about having your pregnancy terminated personally or on the NHS.

Everyone's reasons for contemplating an abortion are different and it is significant that you completely understand what it entails. Over 180,000 women have an abortion in the UK every year so it is a equitably widespread procedure. Hence, abortion clinics are very skilled in the method and offer therapy and emotional support if needed as it is rather usual to have blended sentiments about your pregnancy if you didn't design it. It is accepted that one in three women will have had an abortion before they come to the age of 45, and so you are not alone.

The lawful place of abortion in the UK

In the UK abortion became illicit in the nineteenth century when the penalty for having an abortion was life imprisonment. Women endeavouring to get away the redundant pregnancy were compelled to use unreliable and dangerous methods, including poisonous pharmaceuticals, intertwining needles, assaults to the abdomen etc. If a woman had money, she was discreetly taken to a clinic for an illicit abortion. For those without cash the only choice was 'back street' clinics where untrained persons presented the operation. Knitting needles were regularly used for this 'operation', but there was seldom agony relief. Poor hygiene and (sometimes) banned drugs was another feature of back street abortions. Many women haemorrhaged (very heavy bleeding-often life threatening) and some bled to death rather than go to hospital where their symptoms would be recognised (Bowie, 185).

Many persons were appalled by the number of women suffering and staining as a outcome of illegal ('back street') abortions. Due to pressure from the public, an abortion restructure Bill was introduced. This became LAW in 1967 and took effect in 1968.

The Abortion Act of 1967 (Revised 1990) asserted that:

Abortion is lawful if two medical practitioners individually acquiesce that one or more of four causes for it exist:

The mother's life is at risk if the pregnancy continues.

The mother's mental or physical well-being is at risk.

Scans or checks display the foetus is awfully or ...