With a fresh wave of abortion law proposals, Georgina Anderson looks at why change is not always good.
The issue of abortion has been discussed thousands of times but with the recent suggested changes to British law which would ultimately make it more difficult for women to have an abortion, this controversial subject has reared it’s ugly head once again.
Last month, Conservative MP Nadine Dorries put forward an amendment that would stop charities and other abortion providers, like the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, being able to give advice to women prior to choosing to have a termination. She criticized that their financial interest made them more inclined to encourage women to abort, a process she labelled as a “conveyer belt” of abortion. Under the law change, this job would be handed over to GPs and other government-run organisations. However, opponents of the reform say it could open the door to anti-abortion or religious based organisations giving pro-life counselling.
The current abortion law – which was enforced in 1967 and has barely changed since – is already chronically flawed. Women must obtain consent from two independent GPs before going ahead with the procedure. This means that the choice to have a termination is somewhat out of the women’s hands and instead passed over to a doctor (of which one in ten of them claims to be anti-abortion). Traumatic enough as it is, adding further counselling and “approval” from more bodies could not only mean a delayed process, making the procedure in itself more distressing as the pregnancy develops, but one fraught with boundaries and bureaucratic hurdles.
Disguised as changes to “protect women” from being misinformed and later regretting their decision, the proposal could pave the way to tougher restrictions and an increase in anti-choice protestors.
If Dorries’ plans were to have gone ahead, a longer drawn out process would have been introduced. As a result, a boom of illegal and potentially dangerous “back street” abortions were predicted. In Northern Ireland for example, where abortion is still against the law, it’s no surprise that women are opting for extreme measures. Many women are buying abortion drugs online although never actually know what these drugs contain. Without medical supervision they are leaving themselves at risk to chronic bleeding or infection which could ultimately lead to death. Of course there is no figure for the amount of women who inquire complications but these women have an impossible choice; either face social out casting by confiding in a doctor or hoping they recover without medical help.
I am in no way implying that the current process is perfect. There are numerous places where the law could be modernised not only for the woman’s benefit but also for economical benefit. However, an increase in “red tape” and document stamping is never the answer.
Thankfully, the proposal was unsuccessful with 75% of the attending parliament voting against it, but this has brought the realisation that a woman’s right to an abortion is not a done deal and is constantly being reviewed. Pro-choice campaigners are fighting everyday to keep the current right and I for one, am one of them.
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