No change in British abortion laws

[pro-choice]

The House of Commons has decided by a large majority not to further restrict abortion access. Eventhough the anti-choice side put a huge amount of resources into their campaign and Labour Party MPs were given a free vote there will be no change in term limits.

[NotDevsSon]

I think it is a pity. The 24 week limit is nonsensical in science apart from thing else. Even many pro-choice campaigners say that privately. It is one of the highest limits to be found anywhere.

[baldur0300]

The House of Commons has decided by a large majority not to further restrict abortion access. Eventhough the anti-choice side put a huge amount of resources into their campaign and Labour Party MPs were given a free vote there will be no change in term limits.

Pity. Always next year. Least they refused to extend the Abortion Act to NI

[factual]

I think it is a pity. The 24 week limit is nonsensical in science apart from thing else. Even many pro-choice campaigners say that privately. It is one of the highest limits to be found anywhere.

Only 2% of abortions happen in that last 4 weeks mind you and these are the most vulnerable women.

[odie1kanobe]

Not a great shock because the agenda of some is to extend the limit from 24 upwards.

Its always a good question to ask a Feminist.

If you believe the father has no right to an input on whether the mother should have an abortion then why do you then believe a father should have to pay to bring up the child when he had no input into its existence.

Always interesting to listen to the answers.

[NotDevsSon]

I think it is a pity. The 24 week limit is nonsensical in science apart from thing else. Even many pro-choice campaigners say that privately. It is one of the highest limits to be found anywhere.

Only 2% of abortions happen in that last 4 weeks mind you and these are the most vulnerable women.

At 24 weeks the foetus also is hitting viability. So at that stage certainly, irrespective of the vulnerability of the women, there are now two lives. not one. It is ironic that you do have in the same hospital one foetus aged 24 weeks being aborted, while down the corridor a 24 week old foetus if born has everything the medical profession can do done to it to help it survive. Either neither should survive or both. It is illogical to insist that one must be killed and one must be saved with the only difference being in which room on the corridor they are in.

[toxic avenger]

The House of Commons has decided by a large majority not to further restrict abortion access. Eventhough the anti-choice side put a huge amount of resources into their campaign and Labour Party MPs were given a free vote there will be no change in term limits.

By 'anti-choice', I assume you mean anti-abortion. What about the choice of the child to live and grow up, the 'pro-choice' side are a tad anti-choice there, are they not?...

[odie1kanobe]

I think it is a pity. The 24 week limit is nonsensical in science apart from thing else. Even many pro-choice campaigners say that privately. It is one of the highest limits to be found anywhere.

Only 2% of abortions happen in that last 4 weeks mind you and these are the most vulnerable women.

At 24 weeks the foetus also is hitting viability. So at that stage certainly, irrespective of the vulnerability of the women, there are now two lives. not one. It is ironic that you do have in the same hospital one foetus aged 24 weeks being aborted, while down the corridor a 24 week old foetus if born has everything the medical profession can do done to it to help it survive. Either neither should survive or both. It is illogical to insist that one must be killed and one must be saved with the only difference being in which room on the corridor they are in.

The practice of allowing Foetus born premature or aborted foetuses which are living to die has been documented in UK hospitals quite a bit over the years.

You reduce the value of human life and people just push to what they can get away with.

[toxic avenger]

It is, of course, utter hypocrisy. Either outlaw abortion altogether, or extend its availability right up to term. Arguing that it's ok (this year) to kill the foetus up to a certain point, but a crime after that, is the most morally, scientifically, and logically inconsistent position it is possible to take.

[pro-choice]

At 24 weeks the foetus also is hitting viability. So at that stage certainly, irrespective of the vulnerability of the women, there are now two lives. not one. It is ironic that you do have in the same hospital one foetus aged 24 weeks being aborted, while down the corridor a 24 week old foetus if born has everything the medical profession can do done to it to help it survive. Either neither should survive or both. It is illogical to insist that one must be killed and one must be saved with the only difference being in which room on the corridor they are in.

Listening to the debates it seems as if the decision for most MPs was based on viability. Many MPs pointed to research that showed viability was over 24 weeks and that even with new technology and medical advances, feotus is not viable under 24 weeks.

I was particularly struck by the tone of the debate. Although MPs clearly held strong and passionate views, the debate did not get personal. They also seem to have developed an agreed language around the issue in which people can understand each other without having to agree with each other.