1978BMJOpen access

Abortion law reform.

J Bury

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Abstract

The 1967 Abortion Act in England requires that a woman have two doctors' signatures before she can obtain an abortion. Various groups, such as Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion, are working to change the law to abortion on request. If the law were changed there would be fewer delays before termination. In countries with abortion on request, 90% are performed in the first trimester. Under the existing law, 80% are first trimester. The decrease in the number of conceptions in England and Wales since 1968 indicates that liberal abortion laws encourage greater use of contraception. No one is forced to do anything against his or her will--neither the woman nor the doctor.

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What this paper is about

The 1967 Abortion Act in England requires that a woman have two doctors' signatures before she can obtain an abortion. Various groups, such as Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion, are working to change the law to abortion on request. If the law were changed there would be fewer delays before termination. In countries with abortion on request, 90% are performed in the first trimester. Under the existing law, 80% are first trimester. The decrease in the number of conceptions in England and Wales since 1968 indicates that liberal abortion laws encourage greater use of contraception. No one is forced to do anything against his or her will--neither the woman nor the doctor.

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Available abstract

The 1967 Abortion Act in England requires that a woman have two doctors' signatures before she can obtain an abortion. Various groups, such as Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion, are working to change the law to abortion on request. If the law were changed there would be fewer delays before termination. In countries with abortion on request, 90% are performed in the first trimester. Under the existing law, 80% are first trimester. The decrease in the number of conceptions in England and Wales since 1968 indicates that liberal abortion laws encourage greater use of contraception. No one is forced to do anything against his or her will--neither the woman nor the doctor.

Key concepts: Abortion, Abortion law, Law, Family planning, First trimester, English law, Medicine, Political science

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