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Call to cut abortion time limit Abortion time limit cut rejected
(about 2 hours later)
The latest time at which an abortion can be carried out should be cut from 24 weeks to 21 weeks, a Conservative MP is due to argue in the Commons. MPs have voted against a bill calling for the legal time limit for abortions to be cut from 24 weeks to 21 weeks.
A foetus may feel pain from 21 weeks, Nadine Dorries will say when presenting her bill to MPs at 1530 GMT. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, who introduced the bill, had argued that a foetus may feel pain from 21 weeks.
Ms Dorries wants a 10-day "cooling-off" period after a request for an abortion before it is carried out. Ms Dorries also wanted a ten day "cooling-off" period between a request for an abortion and it being performed, for the woman to receive counselling.
Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris, who opposes the bill, said it would be unethical to impose a 10-day delay on treatment. But Labour MP Chris McCafferty called it "an attack on women's reproductive rights". MPs voted 187 to 108 against.
There were 186,400 abortions in England and Wales during 2005. All the main parties consider the issue of abortion, of which there were 186,400 in England and Wales last year, to be one on which individual MPs should have a free vote, rather than following a party line.
Such a cooling-off period is necessary, because the decision to terminate a pregnancy or not is one with which the woman concerned will have to live for the rest of her life Nadine Dorries MPSuch a cooling-off period is necessary, because the decision to terminate a pregnancy or not is one with which the woman concerned will have to live for the rest of her life Nadine Dorries MP
Department of Health statistics show that 89% were carried out before the woman was 13 weeks pregnant, with 67% performed at under 10 weeks. Department of Health statistics show that 89% of abortions in 2005 were carried out before the woman was 13 weeks pregnant, with 67% performed at under 10 weeks.
Ms Dorries said the usual argument for reducing the time limit centred on viability - the likelihood of the foetus surviving outside of the womb - which is considered to be 23 weeks.Ms Dorries said the usual argument for reducing the time limit centred on viability - the likelihood of the foetus surviving outside of the womb - which is considered to be 23 weeks.
"However, my argument for reduction rests not on viability, but on the issue of foetal sentience - how foetuses respond to pain, sound etc."However, my argument for reduction rests not on viability, but on the issue of foetal sentience - how foetuses respond to pain, sound etc.
"The latest scientific research puts the case of sentience at around 21 weeks.""The latest scientific research puts the case of sentience at around 21 weeks."
She said late abortions involved foeticide, requiring a lethal injection in the foetus' heart while it is still in the uterus, before inducing labour.
"Doctors don't like foeticide. Doctors don't like late abortions," Ms Dorries told the Commons.
Australian exampleAustralian example
During the "cooling off", a woman should be given access to information and counselling about the medical risk of termination as well as of carrying a pregnancy to term "as a condition of informed consent", Ms Dorries said.During the "cooling off", a woman should be given access to information and counselling about the medical risk of termination as well as of carrying a pregnancy to term "as a condition of informed consent", Ms Dorries said.
Providing such information and counselling was based on experience in Western Australia, where abortions have dropped since it was introduced in 1998. However, there is no waiting period in Western Australia.Providing such information and counselling was based on experience in Western Australia, where abortions have dropped since it was introduced in 1998. However, there is no waiting period in Western Australia.
If the woman still wants to proceed after the 10 days, her waiting time should be consequently be reduced by 10 days, Ms Dorries said.If the woman still wants to proceed after the 10 days, her waiting time should be consequently be reduced by 10 days, Ms Dorries said.
"Such a cooling-off period is necessary, because the decision to terminate a pregnancy or not is one with which the woman concerned will have to live for the rest of her life," she added."Such a cooling-off period is necessary, because the decision to terminate a pregnancy or not is one with which the woman concerned will have to live for the rest of her life," she added.
"It is imperative that this decision is fully considered, and that all the necessary help and advice is available for her to make an informed decision.""It is imperative that this decision is fully considered, and that all the necessary help and advice is available for her to make an informed decision."
Dr Harris, a member of the Commons science select committee, said a cut in the time limit would stop many vulnerable women from getting access to abortion services "for no clear reason". 'Vulnerable'
Free vote Ms McCafferty said the bill was "ill-informed" as there was only a very small proportion of late abortions performed each year.
"No other medical procedure is subjected to a cooling-off period because doctors already have a duty to ensure they obtain informed consent for treatments, but also respect the autonomy of their patients," he added. She described the bill as cynical, cruel and inhumane.
Ms Dorries is introducing the issue as a Ten Minute Rule Bill on Tuesday - allowing her to talk in the House of Commons for ten minutes. Forcing a woman to have counselling went against the whole principle of counselling, while the 10-day delay could prompt women to travel abroad for abortions "when they are in a vulnerable state" or resort to illegal abortions.
Even if MPs back it, the government will only rarely allow a Ten Minute Rule Bill to progress far enough to become law so MPs tend to use this procedure simply as a way of gaining publicity for a particular issue. The best way to cut the number of abortions was to improve access to contraception and information about sexual health for both men and women, Ms McCafferty said.
All the main parties consider the issue of abortion to be one on which individual MPs should have a free vote, rather than following a party line. Ms Dorries introduced the issue as a Ten Minute Rule Bill on Tuesday - allowing her to talk in the House of Commons for ten minutes, before Ms McCafferty argued the counter case.
Even if MPs had backed it, the government only rarely allows a Ten Minute Rule Bill to progress far enough to become law so MPs tend to use this procedure simply as a way of gaining publicity for a particular issue, and for testing the mood of their fellow MPs.