Royal College of Midwives backs abolition of abortion law that could see women terminate unborn child at any point

[ThatsMyStapler]

Surely the majority of people needing/wanting a medical abortion do so for very good reasons, and also as quickly as is possible.




Royal College of Midwives backs abolition of abortion law that could see women terminate unborn child at any point

Telegraph Link

he Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is facing criticism after calling for abortion to be decriminalised, without consulting its members on the issue.
The union, which represents almost 30,000 midwives and health workers, has said it gives its “full support” to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the UK’s biggest abortion provider, in its campaign for abortion to be removed from criminal law.
Prof Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, is also chairman of the board of trustees of BPAS.
It is currently against the law for women to terminate a foetus after 24 weeks unless there is a medical reason to do so, while abortions earlier in a pregnancy are only legal if two doctors agree to it.
But the RCM is backing calls for the legal limits to be scrapped and abortion to instead be regulated in the same way as other medical procedures, at the discretion of doctors.




There is a petition to stop this, and they say;

"Your campaign is severely out of touch with what women actually think and want. A ComRes poll in March 2014 found that 88% of women favoured a total and explicit ban on sex-selective abortion, whilst another in October that year registered a similar figure of 85%. The March poll also found 92% of women agreeing that a woman requesting an abortion should always be seen in person by a qualified doctor. Whilst in 2006, a Guardian / MORI poll found that 47% of women wanted a reduction in the upper time limit, a 2012 Angus Reid poll found this number had increased to 59% of women."

[NowSissyThatWalk]

Sorry, what is your question? You might want to move this to News.

[PinkyOfPie]

I'm really in 2 minds about the proposed law - I am fully pro choice, and believe a woman should have an abortion whatever the reason (eg if it's related to gender of baby) but I didn't think there were so many women getting illegal abortions over 24 weeks so not sure why the law is necessary? Willing to be proven wrong!

I think what is stated in the petition is a bit irrelevant. Why should all women have a say on abortion laws? IMO it should be women who've had abortions, not all women, who should be consulted with. I don't really understand anyway why anyone cares so much if a stranger does or doesn't want to keep their baby

[Riversiderunner]

Horrendous. So awful. I can't even think about it.

[buntymo]

It should be legal to have abortion because of gender of baby?!

[madcapped]

I support the rcm and bpas on this.

[BlueSpanishEyes]

Well it is legal bunty..

[JoyceDivision]

Why should only women who have already had an abortion be consulted?

[wobblywonderwoman]

I don't agree with abortion because of gender and over 24 weeks. Surely the baby could survive outside the womb.. Or at least it's likely to be quite high?

no

[EnoughAlready999]

Why do you call it a medical abortion? That is an abortion up to 10 weeks using pills to terminate the pregnancy.

[katemiddletonsnudeheels]

Not quite bunty

The idea is that just as you can in effect terminate for whatever reason (in fact you don't NEED a reason other than 'I do not wish to be pregnant' up to 24 weeks, this is extended to the full pregnancy.

pinky I think as with most things it is the principle - that in other words, the union wish to send the message that abortion isn't a criminal act in their eyes.

I just can't agree with it, though, I understand why others do, I am pro choice - but the thought of being able to terminate a 37 week foetus even if this is only ever in theory - is not something I could ever condone.

[EnoughAlready999]

But YANBU. I think it's disgusting that anyone could leave it so late and still have that option. Anything past 12/13 weeks is too late imo.

[OurBlanche]

Bloody hell... read what they really say!

They are not saying that every woman who asks should be given free rein to abort as and when they fancy.

They are saying that women who make choices to abort should not be criminalised, face jail for that decision.

Quote: "The RCM believes that if we are to be advocates for women then we must advocate for choice on all aspects of their care.

“This is not about being for or against abortion; it is about being for women and respecting their choices about their bodies.”

If some Tory minister wants to say it is disgusting and have the male led media agree with him, that is his prerogative.

But on a women led forum I would expect that someone, everyone, would read what the RCM is actually saying, rather than jump on the unsavoury and inaccurate sound bites said male led media has published.

This is what they have really said:

“The RCM does not believe it is right that in the 21st Century it is still the case that women who choose to have an abortion can be criminalised and jailed.

“Accordingly the RCM believes that abortion should be removed from the criminal law.

[Samcro]

i think it should be up to term.

[ghostyslovesheep]

www.rcm.org.uk/news-views-and-analysis/views/setting-the-record-straight-the-rcm-and-abortion

seems fair to me when you remove the media spin

[PinkyOfPie]

Joyce because they have had the experience of the decisions, procedures and emotions hat come with it as well as the way women are treated over abortions. It's important to consult with groups who have been or will be affected. I fear too many pro-life nuts would stick their oar in if it was a public consultation

[HappyHeart87]

There is no evidence that the decriminalisation of abortion would lead to a reduction in abortion rates.

In Australia and Canada, late term abortion has been removed from criminal statute with no resultant increase in abortion rates.

[TrashPanda]

I support RCM and BPAS on this. Any woman who is pregnant and doesn't wish to be should be able to stop the pregnancy. That's it really.

[ghostyslovesheep]

and here

[PinkyOfPie]

In that case I support RCM and BPAS

[ghostyslovesheep]

you know what WOULD reduce late termination rates - better access to termination

[katemiddletonsnudeheels]

But OurBoanche, the woman in question who 'aborted' at 32 weeks did so illegally, so really we are arguing in favour of women being able to abort whenever (in effect) - unless you mean that while it can remain illegal women should not face jail for it.

I'm inclined to agree in that case jail wasn't the answer but then when is it ever?

[katemiddletonsnudeheels]

OurBlanche, sorry!

Ghosty, with the notable exception of N.I. (that poor girl recently ) mainland UK is really very liberal and abortion comparatively very easy to access compared to most of the world.

[HappyHeart87]

Apologies for my typo. There's no evidence that decriminalisation would lead to an INCREASE in abortion rates.

[AyeAmarok]

I am pro-choice.

I think abortions should be as early as possible, as late as necessary.

Aborting because it's not the sex of baby you wanted leaves me cold.

But I don't think that it should be a crime, I don't think... But I'm uncomfortable with it.