Question: Consider the current law on Abortion in the UK.
Give a concise history of the current status of the law, as well as earlier reforms to the law on abortion in the UK.
Critically analyse the different ethical approaches, issues and concepts with respect to this subject matter.
Evaluate the validity of the current law on abortion and the competing arguments for reform.
Answer: The current status of abortion in the UK is that a woman can have an abortion if two doctors agree that her need for abortion matches specific criteria laid down in law. Different reasons for the abortion are specified for earlier and later abortions, and some doctors will not refer women for abortions. The law says that doctors and nurses do not have to be involved in abortion procedures if they have a conscientious objection to abortion.
The 1967 Abortion Act states that up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, two doctors must decide that the risk to a woman’s physical or mental health or the risk to her child’s physical or mental health will be greater if she continues with the pregnancy than if she ends it.
There is no time limit on abortion where two doctors agree that a woman’s health or life is seriously threatened by continuing with the pregnancy or that the foetus is likely to ...(short extract)
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- Subject: Law
- Course: Medical Law
- Level: Degree
- Year: 2nd/3rd
- Mark: 68%
- Words: 5930
- Date submitted: April 24, 2009
- Date written: Not available
- References: Yes
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 3720
