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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Call to end doctor abortion power | Call to end doctor abortion power |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Women should not need the permission of two doctors to have an abortion, top medical law and ethics specialists say. | Women should not need the permission of two doctors to have an abortion, top medical law and ethics specialists say. |
| The 85 experts have signed a letter which is published in the Times calling for the rules in England, Wales and Scotland to be modernised. | The 85 experts have signed a letter which is published in the Times calling for the rules in England, Wales and Scotland to be modernised. |
| They said the law was outdated and related to an era when "doctors knew best" which was no longer appropriate. | They said the law was outdated and related to an era when "doctors knew best" which was no longer appropriate. |
| It comes ahead of a debate by MPs next week when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill returns to the Commons. | It comes ahead of a debate by MPs next week when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill returns to the Commons. |
| A cross-party group of MPs have tabled a series of amendments to the abortion law, including changing the requirement for two doctors to sign off an agreement for a termination. | A cross-party group of MPs have tabled a series of amendments to the abortion law, including changing the requirement for two doctors to sign off an agreement for a termination. |
| Medicine is changing. It is not longer about the doctor knowing best Professor Sally Sheldon, from Kent University | Medicine is changing. It is not longer about the doctor knowing best Professor Sally Sheldon, from Kent University |
| The 1967 Act currently requires a woman to prove that carrying on with a pregnancy would be a risk to her mental or physical health. | The 1967 Act currently requires a woman to prove that carrying on with a pregnancy would be a risk to her mental or physical health. |
| The tabled amendment would only require a GP to confirm a woman was under 24 weeks pregnant - the legal time-scale in which abortions have to take place. | The tabled amendment would only require a GP to confirm a woman was under 24 weeks pregnant - the legal time-scale in which abortions have to take place. |
| The lawyers and ethicists who signed the letter back that proposal. | The lawyers and ethicists who signed the letter back that proposal. |
| Patient | Patient |
| Kent University expert Professor Sally Sheldon, who is one of the signatories, said: "Medicine is changing. | Kent University expert Professor Sally Sheldon, who is one of the signatories, said: "Medicine is changing. |
| "It is no longer about the doctor knowing best, rather the emphasis is on the patient being in charge. | "It is no longer about the doctor knowing best, rather the emphasis is on the patient being in charge. |
| "The two doctor requirement has no place in the modern health service and we should not be placing these obstacles in the way of women wanting an abortion. | "The two doctor requirement has no place in the modern health service and we should not be placing these obstacles in the way of women wanting an abortion. |
| "Of course, GPs will still have a role to play in abortions. Many women will still want to go to them to get medical information and for a sympathetic ear." | "Of course, GPs will still have a role to play in abortions. Many women will still want to go to them to get medical information and for a sympathetic ear." |
| The intervention comes after the British Medical Association called for the end to the two doctor rule at their annual conference last year. | The intervention comes after the British Medical Association called for the end to the two doctor rule at their annual conference last year. |
| But such suggestions have been bitterly opposed by the anti-abortion lobby. |