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Abortion law change 'ruled out' Minister defends abortion limit
(about 1 hour later)
Health Minister Dawn Primarolo says the government does not believe there is sufficient scientific evidence to lower the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks.Health Minister Dawn Primarolo says the government does not believe there is sufficient scientific evidence to lower the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks.
She said nothing had persuaded the Department of Health that survival rates had improved for extremely premature babies born before that time.She said nothing had persuaded the Department of Health that survival rates had improved for extremely premature babies born before that time.
The Pro-Life Alliance wants the upper limit cut to 20 weeks.The Pro-Life Alliance wants the upper limit cut to 20 weeks.
But the British Medical Association says the number surviving at 24 weeks is still "extremely small".But the British Medical Association says the number surviving at 24 weeks is still "extremely small".
Ms Primarolo is giving evidence to the Commons science and technology committee, which is looking at medical advances since the Abortion Act was passed in 1967 - rather than the ethical or moral issues associated with abortion time limits. Ms Primarolo was giving evidence to the Commons science and technology committee, which is looking at medical advances since the Abortion Act was passed in 1967 - rather than the ethical or moral issues associated with abortion time limits.
ViabilityViability
The committee is also questioning Fiona Adshead, deputy chief medical officer for England. Abortion is seen as a "conscience issue" in Parliament so MPs are given a free vote on law changes rather than being directed how to vote by their party leaders.
The committee also questioned Fiona Adshead, deputy chief medical officer for England.
Ms Primarolo told MPs: "The Department of Health's view and the advice to me is that - and that's why there is no proposals from the government to amend the act - that the act works as intended and doesn't require further amendment at the present time."Ms Primarolo told MPs: "The Department of Health's view and the advice to me is that - and that's why there is no proposals from the government to amend the act - that the act works as intended and doesn't require further amendment at the present time."
If the evidence shows that a foetus could feel pain at 20 weeks or less, would the department consider altering its guidelines or making amendments to the Act? Nadine DorriesConservative MP
She said 89% of abortions were carried out before 13 weeks and 68% before 10 weeks. The viability of babies born at 21 weeks was 0%, at 22 weeks 1% and 23 weeks 11%, she said.She said 89% of abortions were carried out before 13 weeks and 68% before 10 weeks. The viability of babies born at 21 weeks was 0%, at 22 weeks 1% and 23 weeks 11%, she said.
"The medical consensus still indicates that whilst improvements have been made in care that at the moment that concept of viability cannot constantly be pushed back," she said."The medical consensus still indicates that whilst improvements have been made in care that at the moment that concept of viability cannot constantly be pushed back," she said.
The MPs' inquiry coincides with an apparent rise in the number of doctors who are conscientious objectors and will not recommend abortion on moral grounds. In occasionally heated exchanges, Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, a former nurse, suggested that Ms Primarolo was committed to a liberalisation of the Act and perhaps a minister with a "fairer" view should be considering these matters.
A woman with an unwanted pregnancy is in crisis - whether she decides to have an abortion, to keep the baby, have an adoption, whatever - that's going to affect her life forever Dr Peter SaundersChristian Medical Fellowship Ms Primarolo said: "I am not here to discuss my personal views. I'm here as the minister to answer the questions the committee puts to me about the information the department has."
Dr Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat committee member and former hospital doctor, said he had no problem with doctors having religious beliefs that affected the way they wish to practice medicine. She said the Department of Health wanted to see abortions conducted as quickly as possible, but stressed that changes to the Act were down to the will of Parliament.
But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "When you are in that position you have a duty to your patient not to allow those personal beliefs to influence the way you deal with them. Conscientious objectors
"What would be ideal is that doctors with conscientious objections and who simply cannot countenance abortion, not to actually have consultations with women for whom abortion is a serious option. Ms Dorries pressed her to say whether she was content with the 24 week upper limit, when viability rates for babies born below that age were quite high in NHS hospitals where there were good neonatal units.
"Otherwise they are led into the temptation ... of seeking to persuade women not to have abortions, trying to talk them out of it, on the basis of their own personal beliefs ... Ms Primarolo said: "The department's view is yes, that's what Parliament has decided and that's where we are. It's for the House to decide on that."
"You can't put the woman's best interests first if you are following your own Christian crusade," he said. Labour's Graham Stringer asked if there was any way a woman seeking an abortion could find out if her GP was a conscientious objector opposed to the practice because this could result in a delay to her treatment.
'Used as contraception' The minister said if doctors were ethically opposed to abortion they should "follow the relevant professional guidance".
However, Dr Peter Saunders, general secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said it was not only doctors with religious beliefs who preferred not to carry out abortions. "We are not seeing that as an issue in the evidence that we have," she said.
He said one in five doctors will not refer patients for the procedure. Doctors' signatures
"A woman with an unwanted pregnancy is in crisis - whether she decides to have an abortion, to keep the baby, have an adoption, whatever - that's going to affect her life forever," he told Today. Tory Dr Robert Spink asked what the Department of Health would define as a "seriously handicapped" baby under the Act and whether it was "comfortable" that children may be aborted because they have cleft pallets.
Lord Steel, the architect of the 1967 Abortion Act, said too many abortions were taking place and the procedure was now being used as a form of contraception. Ms Primarolo said in what "would be very difficult circumstances we are prepared to take the advice from two doctors who understand the circumstances" and who would "make their best judgement".
Ms Dorries asked: "If the evidence shows that a foetus could feel pain at 20 weeks or less, would the department consider altering its guidelines or making amendments to the Act?"
Ms Primarolo said the department did not see a connection with the viability of a foetus, but it would continue looking at the issue through its research.
The minister also stressed that Parliament had decided that before an abortion could take place it required the signatures of two doctors.
Sex education
Earlier, Lord Steel, the architect of the 1967 Abortion Act, said too many abortions were taking place and the procedure was now being used as a form of contraception.
He told The Guardian he was not persuaded that the 24-week limit should be cut, but called for better sex education and a debate on sexual morality to bring the numbers down.He told The Guardian he was not persuaded that the 24-week limit should be cut, but called for better sex education and a debate on sexual morality to bring the numbers down.
Survival chances
Catholic and Church of England leaders have called for a reassessment of abortion's role in society, as the 40th anniversary of the Act is marked.Catholic and Church of England leaders have called for a reassessment of abortion's role in society, as the 40th anniversary of the Act is marked.
In an open letter Cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien accepted that abortion will not be abolished, but stressed that it "robbed everyone of their future".In an open letter Cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien accepted that abortion will not be abolished, but stressed that it "robbed everyone of their future".
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, warned that abortion was increasingly regarded as normal, rather than as a procedure of last resort.The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, warned that abortion was increasingly regarded as normal, rather than as a procedure of last resort.
According to the Department of Health, 193,000 abortions happened in England and Wales last year, of which 89% were performed in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Survival rates
According to the Department of Health, 193,000 abortions happened in England and Wales last year.
The Pro-Life Alliance says babies born at 24 weeks now have a much better chance of survival than when the Abortion Act was passed.The Pro-Life Alliance says babies born at 24 weeks now have a much better chance of survival than when the Abortion Act was passed.
But the BMA says that, despite "very considerable" scientific advances, the number of babies born at 24 weeks and surviving is still "extremely small".But the BMA says that, despite "very considerable" scientific advances, the number of babies born at 24 weeks and surviving is still "extremely small".
The issue of abortion will be aired again during debate on the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill next month.The issue of abortion will be aired again during debate on the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill next month.
When the Abortion Act was first passed the normal time limit for termination was 28 weeks, but this was lowered to 24 in 1990.When the Abortion Act was first passed the normal time limit for termination was 28 weeks, but this was lowered to 24 in 1990.