The upper limit for abortion, should it be lowered as proposed?

katy k · 14th May 2007, 13:51

In view of the recent events where babies have survived at 24 weeks, what do the forum members think about the proposal to lower the legal limit for abotions to take place.

Janet · 14th May 2007, 13:57

What is the legal limit? And are there any exceptions to it?

Hookie · 14th May 2007, 14:52

This is what it currently says on the Marie Stopes site

Abortion is legal in the UK up to the 24th week of pregnancy. However, if there is a substantial risk to the woman's life or if there are foetal abnormalities there is no time limit.

Judetenerife · 14th May 2007, 14:55

abortion should only be considered when living for the child would be a crueller option. Abortion is not a form a conceptive when the "accident" happens and doesnt fit into your life style.

Janet · 14th May 2007, 15:00

Yes, but Jude, this isn´t what the question is about. It´s emotive enough as a subject already, so please can we ALL try not to go off topic! The question is not about abortion as a means of birth control, but specifically about time limits ... and those are relevant whatever the circumstances of the pregnancy.

Sorry to jump in here, everyone, but this thread HAS to stay on topic. Please all try to help it do so.

Hookie · 14th May 2007, 15:03

I agree Janet, and to be honest I do think they should lower the limit. Apart from in circumstances where the child has abnormalities etc, because these can sometimes not be detected until quite a bit later on in the pregnancy.

emskie · 14th May 2007, 15:14

In my opinion, the time limit should be lowered, if what I understand is correct?

So a baby can survive at 24 weeks and yet a women can still have an abortion up until that time?

Judetenerife · 14th May 2007, 15:25

opps - sorry then guys, got a bit carried away . In answer YES it should be lowered, is that a bit more ON topic??

tc22 · 14th May 2007, 16:52

Having 3 kids myself it must be very hard for a women to have to or want to abort a baby at 24 weeks.

Even though the legal limit is 24weeks it would be intresting to know how many women actually abort around that time?

Would of thought probably not that many? obviously for medical reasons it would be different.

In my opinion 24 weeks is to late to be aborting, but for medical reasons that could affect baby/mother I think not.

real sabrinova · 14th May 2007, 16:52

Yes the limit should be lowered. Whatever the reasons for aborting a pregnancy, at 24 weeks the baby is developed enough to be able to survive (with assistance of course) outside the womb. This makes it a child, not just an insentient cluster of cells. And as such such have the right to life of a child.

Not wanting to provoke an off-topic tangent, surely if abortion is the right decision for the mother (& child) it is a decision that can be made earlier in the pregnancy anyway. I would suggest (though admittedly as someone with no experience on the subject so forgive me if this is naive) that if it takes the mother that long to decide, the drastic decision to abort is probably not the right one, emotionally or psychologically.