Before abortion was legal many women
had ‘back street’ abortions - illegal abortions performed by
untrained people. Many women were seriously injured and about
30 died each year.
1967 Abortion Act in Parliament
- made abortion legal if performed in the first 28 weeks.
1990 Human fertilization &
Embryology act
reduced the time to 24 weeks.
It can only be performed if 2 doctors
agree one of the following:
•
There is a risk to the mother’s life if pregnancy continues.
•
Risk of injury to the mental or physical health of the mother.
•
Substantial risk if the child was born it would suffer from
physical or mental
abnormalities.
•
Risk to the physical or mental well being of her existing
children if the pregnancy
continues.
