Anne Quesney, Director of Abortion Rights said:

“Abortion Rights is delighted that the BMA today voted against a reducing the upper time limit for abortion. The vote follows the decision of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists to support the upper time limit and is in line with the views of nine out of ten doctors who support a woman’s right to abortion."

The debate around abortion has been hijacked in recent months by the anti-abortion lobby – which is totally opposed to a woman’s right to an abortion in any circumstances. The lobby has encouraged a disproportionate focus on the upper time limit in the hope of confusing public and political opinion on abortion.

The decision of the BMA reflects an understanding by doctors that very few women need later terminations, and those who do, have compelling reasons for needing them. The women concerned often face desperately difficult and unpredicted life circumstances and no one involved takes the decision lightly.

Contrary to recent assertions, there have been no scientific breakthroughs in foetal medicine, since 1990 when the time limit was last reduced, that would warrant a reassessment of the current upper time limit.”

ENDS

For further information and interviews with Abortion Rights or a late abortion surgeon please contact Anne Quesney, Abortion Rights Director on 020 7278 5539 or mobile 07909 974 101.

Notes to editor:

1. Abortion Rights is the only abortion focussed campaigning and advocacy organisation in the UK. We lead the campaigns to defend and extend abortion rights and provide a pro-choice voice to the media.

2. Abortion Rights is campaigning to:

• Oppose any restrictions to women’s current rights and access to abortion

• Liberalise the current UK abortion law and make abortion available on request in the first three months and with one doctor’s signature thereafter.

• Improve access to, and experience of, abortion – ensure that all women in the UK have equal access to safe, legal and free abortion.

3. Abortion in the UK

• One in three women has an abortion in her lifetime

• 76 per cent of the British population support a woman’s right to choose.

• Abortion laws in the UK are more restrictive than in almost every other European country, where abortion on request is legal in the first three months of pregnancy

• Abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967, but only by permission of two doctors and in restricted circumstances

• Ten per cent of GPs consider themselves to be conscientious objectors and frequently refuse to grant women an abortion, despite General Medical Council guidelines.

• A quarter of women having abortions in England and Wales have to pay for them - there are no public funds available specifically to help poorer women in these circumstances

4. BMA motion

• The BMA vote on late abortion took place in Manchester on Thursday 30th June 2005 between at 10.20am.

• The motion to reduce the upper time limit was defeated by 77% of the vote.