To have just emailed Jeremy Hunt

[Ponyofdoom]

and told him exactly what I thought of him and his anti choice views on abortion, using the word 'disgusted' far too many times for someone not from Tunbridge Wells...then to have emailed Dianne Abbott and thanked her for standing up for women's rights. Even though I am a Tory.

[ExasperatedSigh]

YANBU. He is revolting and I am genuinely scared that he has been given power over healthcare provision.

[GhostofMammaTJ]

Having seen a baby born at 24 weeks in SCBU I do agree that that is too late. The point about screening starting at 20 weeks is a good one though.

Maybe screening at 18 weeks and cut off for abortion being 20 weeks, if that is possible. Or keep screening at 20 weeks and abortion cut off at 22 weeks.

[MoreBeta]

I just heard about this on the news and my immediate reaction was this is an utterly cynical proposal knowing full well that 12 weeks is such a short time limit that most women will find it a practical impossibility to get a pregnancy test, see their GP, get a referal, counselling if necessary, make an informed decison and get an appointment to have the abortion procedure carried out.

I do think that now medical science has advanced there is a case for reducing the limit from 24 weeks to 20 weeks - but not 12 weeks.

This proposal is all about stopping abortions happening while avoiding a parliamentary debate on an actual outright ban which would never get a majority vote.

[Lottapianos]

Well done OP. He should keep his shitty opinions to himself from now on. Or just resign - there's an idea!

[EauRouge]

I don't know enough about screening to know if it's possible at 18 weeks but I think that women should be given long enough to decide if anything bad shows up on their anomaly scan.

12 weeks can fuck the fuck off. If it's an unplanned pregnancy then how many women won't even find out until it's too late to organise a termination? As for 'it just feels right' Fuck off, Jeremy Hunt, your feelings have fuck all to do with my uterus.

[Figgygal]

Hasn't he said its own opinion? He's entitled to that opinion however agree it brings into question his objectivity in his role

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

It said on R4 today that the cast majority (91%) of abortions are carried out before 13 weeks. So I can only assume that the remainder are extreme situations and women who need our protection.

Does anyone have any info on late abortions?

I agree with BeckandCall

[kerrygrey]

Well, I've read through all the posts and no one has said it, so I will. It is my uterus and my body certainly, but there is another human being involved. Removing your child/potential child is not like removing a tumour or an appendix. A death is involved.

[MoreBeta]

It is not just a personal opinion though, as if he had expressed it in an overheard private conversation.

He is the minister in charge of the UK healthcare system and he has given this opinion to the news media. It is bound to be seen as a significant intervention.

[Couchsweetpotato]

There is NO time limit on abortion for serious health problems, so it's all a bit of a red herring. The number of abortions after 13 weeks is low-in 2011, 91% happened then, and around 1% after 20 weeks. The majority of post 20 week abortions are for serious health conditions.

Many trusts will still refuse to resuscitate a baby under 24 weeks as health outcomes are so poor.

Testing is less effective at 18 weeks than 20, and slightly later can be even better depending on individual circumstances.

Frankly, I think Jeremy Hunt is being a huge giant woman hating stupid arsehole and I am profoundly depressed the Minister for Women, FFS, is engaged in trying to reduce the limit on abortions. It is profoundly, profoundly depressing.

[seeker]

Less than 2% of abortions are between 20 and 24 weeks.

[Lovelygoldboots]

A really worrying development, shows the tories for the cynical bastards they are if they are prepared to use this issue for political gain.

[Panzee]

Thank you for the info on later abortions. So if so few people are doing it, why bother legislating for it?

[lavelle11]

a baby has to grow ,breathe and live to get to 20 weeks or 12 weeks the only way you can stop this is by killing it. I feel for all the mothers who do not actually realise what is involved in abortion and suffer the consequences for many years after. God still loves them and their baby who they can meet one day in heaven if they choose. God Bless

[ForkInTheForeheid]

What really worries me about this "following the evidence" (re: foetal survival rates/whatever piece of "research" Mr. cunt Hunt is proposing) approach to abortion is that we have no idea where medical science is going to take us in the future. The focus on the foetus, rather than the mother, moves the argument away from the real issue, which for me is women's right to bodily autonomy.

I'm personally deeply uncomfortable with the idea of an abortion and am 99% sure I would never have one (barring life endangering situations). However that is my choice over my body and every single woman should have the same right to choose what happens to her. As uncomfortable as the idea of 20 week abortions might be (and let's face it, it is) the woman involved is not an incubator and the government/medical establishment have no right to treat her like one.

[ForkInTheForeheid]

(grrr, must preview, Mr Hunt is referring to in his proposal, not proposing)

[Ponyofdoom]

Exactly Fork, why would someone put the life of a foetus over a woman? That is what I have asked him in the email. lavelle11 I think all women know what an abortion means and they have one because they are desperate and have no choice.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

I agree with him.

I don't think the decision should be based on medical evidence, it's an ethical debate, not a medical one. Timing for scans and screening are irrelevant because there is already no time limit on abortion for babies that have serious medical issues, and there is no reason why that needs to change.

[Narked]

'it's an ethical debate, not a medical one'

No. It's really not.

[LonelyCloud]

OP, I suggest that you also e-mail your MP, you can find their contact details on this link:

Find Your MP

If the issue of changing abortion limits does come to a free vote, then IMO the MP you're in a position to vote for at the next general election is the one who's going to care most about your view.

[PeshwariNaan]

Well done you!

[PeshwariNaan]

It is a medical debate, end of story.

I'm from the US and you do not want the situation there at the moment re: abortion. It is absolutely vile. In some states it is to the point where rapes are being judged as "bad enough" or "not bad enough" to receive an abortion.

[gordyslovesheep]

it's a medical procedure - it's a medical debate - the rest is down to your own personal ethics, morals and beliefs - which are fine but have no place in deciding what is legal for other people to choose

he is a stupid man

[xkittyx]

lavelle how can a fetus "breathe" in utero? Don't be daft. The first breathe is taken after birth.

[seeker]

It might be an ethical debate for individuals- but it's a medical debate for legislators. Or should be.