Should Britain change its abortion laws?
Trying to do so may cause more harm than good
LIKE MANY laws governing controversial matters, the Abortion Act of 1967 was a compromise. To protect women in Britain from backstreet abortions, it allowed the termination of pregnancies in most cases until 28 weeks (this was later lowered to 24). In recognition of some people’s belief that abortion is murder, it did not repeal sections of an act from 1861 that criminalise abortion. It also required two doctors to authorise a termination: a medically unnecessary step that carried an aura of disapproval. For more than half a century, this arrangement has meant that abortion law has been considered broadly settled.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Hard cases, bad laws”
Britain June 24th 2023
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- Pay for bosses in Britain falls far behind America. Tough luck
- Ben Wallace says he is out of the race for NATO’s top job
- Should Britain change its abortion laws?
- Indians are flocking to study at British universities
- Vaping among schoolchildren has become a moral panic in Britain
- Sir Keir Starmer’s magic lamp
From the June 24th 2023 edition
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