Sir, I am deeply concerned about the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) proposals — who perform more than 50,000 of the 180,000 abortions each year under contract to the NHS — to provide abortion on demand (report, Nov 28). Currently, there are about 600 abortions performed each day. Making abortions available on demand will encourage women to use abortion as a form of contraception.
The problem facing a country that has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Europe and a high rate of abortions needs to be addressed through better teenage sex education and easier access to free contraception.
BPAS’s proposals to relax the laws demonstrate a cavalier attitude to abortion. By recommending that only one doctor needs to give approval for abortion (at present the law states two doctors must give permission), and that nurses should be able to administer the abortion pill, BPAS is adding unnecessary pressure on the medical profession. Referring a woman for an abortion and performing abortions are difficult decisions. Seeking second opinions on such matters is a longstanding medical practice which should be protected.
The proposed reforms are damaging, and pave the way for an abortion-on-demand society which we have long been careful to avoid.
NADINE DORRIES MP
House of Commons
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Sir, The results of the research mentioned in your article show that women who have had an abortion suffer twice the level of mental health problems and three times the risk of significant depression as other women. Other research has shown that there are mental health risks to the father and others involved in the act.
Abortion involves a complex decision including medical, psychological, familial, social and moral issues. Furthermore, abortion is an elective procedure so the woman seeking advice should not rely on the opinion of one person.
It seems to me that in asking for abortion on demand as a “responsible back-up to contraception”, the BPAS has rejected the purpose of the 1967 Act.
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DAVID C. MATTHEWS
Hanham Abbots, Glos