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| MP calls for abortion counselling | MP calls for abortion counselling |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A new bid to alter current abortion laws is to be made in Parliament - the third such attempt in eight months. | A new bid to alter current abortion laws is to be made in Parliament - the third such attempt in eight months. |
| Ann Winterton's bill would require women to be counselled about possible ill-effects, then to wait a week to consider them before going ahead. | Ann Winterton's bill would require women to be counselled about possible ill-effects, then to wait a week to consider them before going ahead. |
| The Conservative MP will argue that abortion can pose a risk to women's long term mental health. | The Conservative MP will argue that abortion can pose a risk to women's long term mental health. |
| But pro-choice groups say it is the latest in a "concerted campaign" in Parliament to restrict women's rights. | But pro-choice groups say it is the latest in a "concerted campaign" in Parliament to restrict women's rights. |
| Mrs Winterton, who is vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary pro-life group, will argue that many women who have abortions suffer long-term mental health problems. | Mrs Winterton, who is vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary pro-life group, will argue that many women who have abortions suffer long-term mental health problems. |
| Second thoughts | Second thoughts |
| She wants compulsory counselling - rather than the voluntary counselling offered currently - and a seven-day "cooling off" period, to allow time for second thoughts. | She wants compulsory counselling - rather than the voluntary counselling offered currently - and a seven-day "cooling off" period, to allow time for second thoughts. |
| And her Termination of Pregnancy (Counselling and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will also include a provision that doctors record whether abortions are being performed on physical or mental grounds. | And her Termination of Pregnancy (Counselling and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will also include a provision that doctors record whether abortions are being performed on physical or mental grounds. |
| It is a short-sighted, desperate attempt to criminalise abortion Anne QuesneyAbortion Rights class="" href="/1/hi/uk/4350259.stm">Q&A: Abortion law | |
| But the pro-choice group Abortion Rights, said the bill would force women to receive counselling regardless of their wishes. | But the pro-choice group Abortion Rights, said the bill would force women to receive counselling regardless of their wishes. |
| Abortion Rights director Anne Quesney said the bill showed "no compassion for women or respect for women's ability to make their own abortion decision" and said the time delay would effectively pressurise women to change their minds. | Abortion Rights director Anne Quesney said the bill showed "no compassion for women or respect for women's ability to make their own abortion decision" and said the time delay would effectively pressurise women to change their minds. |
| "It is a short-sighted, desperate attempt to criminalise abortion. Forty years since abortion was legalised in Britain, it is time to move forward, not back," she added. | "It is a short-sighted, desperate attempt to criminalise abortion. Forty years since abortion was legalised in Britain, it is time to move forward, not back," she added. |
| And the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said delaying abortions went against good medical practice. | |
| Chief Executive Ann Furedi said women were already offered counselling and were given information about the effects, adding: "Women don't need Parliament to tell them to think carefully about abortion." | |
| Third bill | Third bill |
| But Mrs Winterton won some support from Dr Trevor Stammers, a tutor in general practice at St George's, University of London, who said, over 26 years, he had treated many women suffering from depression relating to abortions. | |
| And consultant gynaecologist Dr Robert Balfour said a study of 5,000 women in Finland between 1987 and 2000 showed those who had an abortion were six times more likely to commit suicide than those who gave birth. | |
| Mrs Winterton's proposal will be introduced as a Ten Minute Rule Bill on Tuesday - allowing her ten minutes' Commons time to put her case forward. | |
| It is the third such bill since October 2006. | It is the third such bill since October 2006. |
| Cardinal O'Brien was accused of using inflammatory words | Cardinal O'Brien was accused of using inflammatory words |
| Nadine Dorries's attempt to cut the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks until 21 weeks was defeated - as was Angela Watkinson's bid to force doctors offering abortion advice to under-16s to inform their parents. | Nadine Dorries's attempt to cut the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks until 21 weeks was defeated - as was Angela Watkinson's bid to force doctors offering abortion advice to under-16s to inform their parents. |
| Even if Mrs Winterton wins MPs' support, the government only rarely allows a Ten Minute Rule Bill to progress far enough to become law. | Even if Mrs Winterton wins MPs' support, the government only rarely allows a Ten Minute Rule Bill to progress far enough to become law. |
| But they are a useful way of gauging opinion among MPs - and there has been speculation, most recently in Monday's Guardian, that both sides of the debate are gearing up to try to liberalise, or curb, the 1967 Abortion Act, by seeking amendments to the forthcoming Human Tissues and Embryos bill. | But they are a useful way of gauging opinion among MPs - and there has been speculation, most recently in Monday's Guardian, that both sides of the debate are gearing up to try to liberalise, or curb, the 1967 Abortion Act, by seeking amendments to the forthcoming Human Tissues and Embryos bill. |
| There are about 190,000 abortions a year in England and Wales, nearly 25% of all pregnancies. All the main parties consider the issue to be an ethical one on which individual MPs should have a free vote. | There are about 190,000 abortions a year in England and Wales, nearly 25% of all pregnancies. All the main parties consider the issue to be an ethical one on which individual MPs should have a free vote. |
| Last week Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic - Cardinal Keith O'Brien - likened the abortion rate in Scotland to "two Dunblane massacres a day" and called on politicians to stop supporting what he called an "unspeakable crime". | Last week Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic - Cardinal Keith O'Brien - likened the abortion rate in Scotland to "two Dunblane massacres a day" and called on politicians to stop supporting what he called an "unspeakable crime". |