Abortion Laws

[B00]

Following this remarkable story....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6377 639.stm

Do you think that a review on the legal time limit for abortions is needed?

[Whickerman]

I'm whole-heartedly pro-choice, and to answer your question, yes.

[naomi24]

Yes I do - and I'm all for choice too.

[Supernick]

I think is necessary to have a review of the time limit, possibly down to 20 weeks, but I remain firmly pro-choice.

[gina32]

i am neither for or against abortion, we all have the choice, but bearing in mind that this baby was very very lucky to have lived and the vast majority of babies born at that time wouldnt have, it is a very difficult question to answer. god bless her and hope she does well

[Oneeyedvic]

No I don't think that there should be a review based on one isolated case.

[yesmadam]

As I already pointed out. A friend of mine had to terminate at 21 weeks. At her 20 week scan it was found the baby had a very severe abnormality and was not likely to survive full gestation or life after birth.

The hospital gave her no choice.

The 20 week scans are necessary for cases such as these. That is why the 24 week limit is there. How do you think she would have felt if not only was her baby severely ill she would have been terminating illegally? had the limit been dropped to say 20 weeks? or before the essential 20 week scan?

So, in answer to your question no.

[gina32]

didnt finish my post, no i dont think it should be lowered

[Supernick]

yesmadam - you've changed my mind then. I wasn't aware that we did scans at 20 weeks.

[yesmadam]

It breaks my heart to think about it still now.... here's a further reading for you......

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1694855, 00.html

[noxlumos]

There is a difference yesmadam between your friend's heartbreaking decision and someone whose suddenly decided that they don't want the baby they are carrying. I am very pro choice despite disliking the idea of abortion but have long though the limit should be dropped to around 16 weeks. I think there should be a medcal exceptions clause, for people like your friend, where either their life is in danger or it's realised that their child will have no quality of life, where the limit is 24 weeks, but I don't think 24 weeks is apparopriate in more general circumstances.

[B00]

Totally agree with noxy, except with the limit. Personally I think it should be lowered to 20 weeks, at the time of your 2nd scan, and only beyond that for medical reasons either for the mother or child.

Not quite sure why you think that based on this case alone vic you don't think it should be lowered, surely this proves that a child can survive being born at 21 weeks? OK it's with medical intervention but then so is a child born at say 28 weeks.

[jedimistress]

I believe it should remain the same. The termination clinics aren't full of women 24 weeks pregnant. The numbers are few and far between and usually down to extraordinary circumstance. Like a slight young girl who did not even know she was pregnant until then, had only had sex once, and did not know she had missed periods as they had not even began to be regular yet. She was in no position to bring a child into the world.

[Goodsoulette]

I am extremely prochoice. I believe that it is remarkable what medical intervention can do to keep babies alive and can be a wonderful thing, but this baby wasnt born with a life, it was saved. I do not think there is any point in lowering the limit as with the 20 weeks scan sometimes not happening for women til they are 22 weeks this would be too soon. However the 24 week rule is not final, if there was serious risk to the mother or the child a termination of pregnancy can be performed at ANY stage of the pregnancy. In my county you would find it virtually impossible to get an abortion for social reasons past 15 weeks (so how you feel Nox is virtually in place anyway) after 15 weeks the cervix needs stretching and it becomes more complicated hence doctors not liking to do it, and in most NHS cases this would be the same across the country. There is a such a small amout of terminations performed after even 13 weeks, people and doctors do not abuse this time limit.

As said above the only person I know who has had a termination past 20 weeks without having medical problems with the preganacy was a 15 year old girl, whose mother had just died, the doctors felt it would be of serious risk to her mental health and allowed for her to have a termination.

[Goodsoulette]

also I believe that terminations should be made more accessible, we are led to believe it is easy but the waiting lists to get to a clinic are huge. If you find out you you are pregnant at 10 weeks you might have to wait 4 weeks to get to the clinic, then another week before you have the procedure. If you find out at 6 weeks you still generally lose the option to have a medical abortion which I truly believe is a lot less traumatic.

[netibiza]

Yes BOO it's a personal choice, and there should definitely be a legal time limit. I remember in the 60's, the limit for abortions (if you could get them) was up to 12 weeks. Which I think is acceptable.

[netibiza]

Yes BOO it's a personal choiuce, and there should definitely be a legal time limit. I remember in the 60's, the limit for abortions (if you could get them) was up to 12 weeks. Which I think is acceptable. I am talking of unwanted pregnancies, not medically advised ones, as obviously these will be much later.

[netibiza]

*sorry about that*

[Pippa68]

I agree with nox & BOO.

Despite popular belief, terminations are usually performed at around 9-12 weeks. Women generally find out they are pregnant quite early on and usually make the decision before 16 weeks.