The right to choose

I believe strongly in a woman’s right to choose. It made me really angry when I first heard that there was an amendment tabled to the Human Embryology and Fertility Act to cut the limit to 12 weeks, halving the former (and thankfully still current) right to have an abortion at up to 24 weeks. The 12 week cut failed by 393 to 71 – phew. Who were those 71? Well there were three ex cabinet ministers amongst them. A series of different amendments to cut the time limit to 12, 16 and 20 weeks were all rejected, and in the closest vote on Tuesday night, MPs rejected by 304 to 233 a proposal to reduce the upper limit for abortions to 22 weeks. Thus the 24 week rule stays in place.

I held off posting a blog about it, waiting to hear how MPs voted. Since they voted to maintain the status quo we can breathe a sight of relief – or can we?

It’s really important to note that most medical expert bodies like the BMA do still agree that in the most extreme cases 24 weeks should be the upper limit, and there has been no significant scientific evidence in the last 18 years to change this position. So why are those we elect to represent us in parliament even making proposals, considering them and debating this issue?

I think that most people, given the choice would prefer to have an abortion earlier, and this graph shows us exactly that:

The decision to have an abortion is not an easy decision for any woman to make. There may be extraneous circumstances that lead to a later abortion, and doubtless it is an unpleasant and terribly terribly hard decision to make. Until it is proven that this is not justifiable from a medical standpoint the 24 weeks must stand: digital 3D pictures used to somehow prove that at 22 weeks a foetus has feelings are cruel and unfair in the extreme.

I do agree that this can be viewed as not only a medical issue, but an ethical issue too and I think that Christine McCafferty, the Labour MP for Calder Valley, was absolutely right when she said 'The pregnant women herself is the only person who can make a responsible decision':

"Abortion should be a private decision between the patient and her doctor, just like any other medical treatment. Why is it so difficult for societies, even one like ours, to give the power to decide to those who carry the consequences?"

The prolife demonstrations in the USA make me incredibly nervous. Our country, the hard fought for rights and freedoms for women in our country must be upheld, and we must not allow ourselves to slip into becoming a society where women are humiliated, scared and threatened.

In addition to this, we cannot and must not go back to the days of backstreet abortions. I believe that the Government must not deny access to abortion, and should strive to ensure that women receive the very best medical advice and emotional support when making decisions about pregnancy, and that they receive professional, swift and discreet care throughout.