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."

[NeedACleverNN]

I've read this thread carefully. I've read everyone's arguments and although late term abortion doesn't sit right with me I have to agree with this

I support BPAS and the RCM.

As early as possible, as late as necessary.

No one knows the circumstances in which a woman could turn up at the hospital 32 weeks pregnant. She could have escaped an abusive husband. Her husband could have died and she can't cope. She could be on the brink of eviction and severe money worries. She could be an immigrant who has fleed terror but still doesn't feel safe. The foetus(not baby. A foetus) could be deformed or have a disability which is life limiting and has only just been picked up.

So yes. I do agree support the RCM. Until you have been in one woman's shoes who had to have a late abortion, I don't think anyone could argue against it

[JacobFryesTopHatLackey]

I support the RCM and BPAS and agree with the posts made in the same vein as elendon.

[bumbleymummy]

"The foetus(not baby. A foetus) could be deformed or have a disability which is life limiting and has only just been picked up."

Abortion is already allowed to term for this under the current legislation. As is abortion if the woman's/life or health is in danger. Although, at this stage of pregnancy, early induction can be used.

[PinkyOfPie]

There is adoption, for example.

In all of the abortion arguments, this is perhaps the most frustrating argument of all!

[NeedACleverNN]

But NeedACleverNN, it isn't like women who can't cope with a baby doesn't have options at that stage. There is adoption, for example.

But why should a woman go through more weeks of feeling that child move inside her, the symptoms of pregnancy (especially if it isn't an easy pregnancy) and then through the trauma of labour. What if she already has children and has no body around to care for her current children so she can go and have another? Adoption is not easy. Abortion is not easy. It should be down the woman full stop to what she wants to don

[RonaldMcDonald]

I support the BPAS and the R C M
As early as possible and as late as necessary

Perfectly put

[bumbleymummy]

Early induction? Woman can choose to no longer be pregnant and baby has a chance to live. Late term abortion isn't exactly a walk in the park! She's going to need someone to care for her children during the procedure too.

[AloraRyger]

I support this. I support trusting women to know what is right for them.

Anyone who thinks that given the chance women will suddenly start terminating pregnancies on a whim post 24 weeks really really needs to read the 32 reasons document.

//www.bpas.org/media/1181/32-reasons-not-to-lower-the-abortion-time-limit-briefing.doc

These are desperate and vulnerable girls and women.

[Claraoswald36]

I support the rcm fully. I support a woman's choice to abort an unwanted foetus. No reason is superior to another.

[bumbleymummy]

That was to NeedACleverNickname

[NeedACleverNN]

Early induction still needs labour which is fucking hard work. Plus damage to the body. And it's traumatic for the new born! You can't guarantee the new born would survive plus there could be life long limitations if they are born early

[bumbleymummy]

So does late term abortion.

[NeedACleverNN]

Yes true didn't think about that but what about the effects on the newborn?

[Dawndonnaagain]

I too support this.

[Catvsworld]

I am pro choice but this is to far can you imagine someone changes there mind a week before due date the day before 😳

[HuskyLover1]

Does anybody know how exactly you would kill a baby, at say 32 weeks? You certainly would have to give birth to it. A lethal injection?

What about the mental health of the midwives, who in one cubicle have just helped a lady give birth to a 32 week baby, and then have to go into the next cubicle to kill a baby at 33 weeks? Could YOU do that, and still feel ok about the World? I know I couldn't.

What are things coming to, when people feel it's OK to kill an innocent baby, but god forbid we kill a convicted murderer/rapist?

It's all wrong. IMO even 24 weeks is too late (barring the baby being deformed etc).

If you don't want the baby, please try to abort before it even has a heart beat. Or certainly very very early on.

A baby post 24 weeks can survive. If you decide you don't want it, carry it to term and let it be adopted. There are thousands of infertile couples. Match these up to women who decide late on, that they don't want their baby.

As for "woman's body, woman's choice". What choice is the female baby, who would have grown into a woman getting? None. This is a stupid pro-choice argument.

I would also say, that any woman who aborts a healthy baby very late, should have Social Services involved with the rearing of existing children, because clearly, something isn't right.

[dimots]

I have known more than one teenage girl who hid her pregnancy until after the current abortion limit as she feared her parents would force her to terminate. We have had women on these boards who have been under immense pressure from partners to abort when they don't want to. A late abortion which a woman has been pressured into is surely every bit as traumatizing as giving birth to a baby you don't want. The current limit does provide a safety net for women under pressure to abort.
That said I don't think a woman should be prosecuted for late abortion for non-medical reasons, but I do think a doctor who performed the abortion and/or any person who procured the abortion should be put under scrutiny.

[Catvsworld]

God and Lord only can think if the termination is botched as the child is not just viable full term it could easily survive then what crikey

I think it's right that you have the chance to change your mind but like most medical procedures you have to do it asap

[Maiyakat]

The views on here show what a highly charged debate this is. And that is exactly why the RCM should not be joining in this campaign. RCM members have views which span the whole spectrum of the debate, and the RCM has no right to claim to speak for them without consulting them. Cathy Warwick's position as chair of the BPAS board is not mentioned on her profile on the RCM website nor the press statement she made supporting the BPAS campaign. The RCM would be better placed spending the money of its members working to support and train midwives who care for women having terminations within the current law, usually late terminations of much wanted pregnancies due to abnormalities.

[bumbleymummy]

Better to have a chance at life than none at all IMO.

[Catvsworld]

Add message | Report | Message poster dimots Tue 17-May-16 10:09:00


My sister is a sexual health nurse and I know this to be true many woman girls hide there pregnancy in order not to forced pressured Ito having a termination

[GivingHeadsUp]

I have said for years and years that abortion should be permitted at any stage of a pregnancy right up to term.

[SugarBlossom92]

I don't see it as women being 'criminalised' that would only be the case if they actually commit the crime, the law is preventing women from committing the crime in the first place therefore they are not technically being criminalised they are being prevented from doing something. You can't legally kill a living newborn baby because of 'difficult' circumstances so why should you legally be able to kill an unborn one. I think the law should stay exactly how it is and allow late term abortions for medical reasons only but this is just my personal opinion. I see it as the baby is still here in this world and alive, just because it can't be seen it is still just as alive as a baby which has actually been born.