AIBU to think throwing a mum-of-four in prison for having an abortion is never the answer?

[therescoffeeinthatnebula]

Spotted this on Twitter and haven't seen it already being discussed.

Apparently, a woman is being sentenced today for having an abortion over the limit during lockdown. I don't know of the circumstances (can't find anything other than the Sunday Times article), only that she already had four children and claims she didn't know exactly how far along she was.

I think most of us would agree making medical appointments during lockdown was bloody difficult and that it's even harder to attend any appointment if you have children, given you're not normally allowed to take them with you.

Whatever the truth, I'm appalled to see a woman potentially thrown in prison for trying to seek an abortion during lockdown, especially when you look at how violence against women is treated. I'd have thought referring her for mandatory counselling would be more of an appropriate outcome than prison because finding out you aborted what could have been a viable baby has got to mess with anyone's head.

It's all very sad - she should have been able to access proper services earlier - but prison, to me, should never have been on the table as a consequence.

I didn't actually realise that abortion in this country was blanket illegal and that our rights to seek abortions up to the limit are actually exceptions to that law rather than a piece of legislation that stands on its own.

First denying rape, now denying the risk of childbirth. 👏

Aborting a viable late term pregnancy is no different in my opinion to those women who sadly conceal the pregnancy and kill their newborns immediately after birth. I don't think either should be de criminalised, but a custodial sentence probably isn't appropriate for either.

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've written. However, this case isn't about access to services. This woman for reasons we don't know, decided past the legal limit of 24 weeks to end her pregnancy.

I'd like to think that no healthcare professional would support the termination of a healthy foetus beyond this stage.

Your opinion is categorically wrong. If you don't think they are different, you don't know anything at all.

How is it wrong? She took the pills knowing it would kill the foetus. If she had given birth at that gestation without the pills it's highly likely it would have been born alive.

Give me a break, it is not exactly a common or expected to die at childbirth these days is it.

99.99 pcnt chance she would not have lost her life, she had succesfully delivered 4 children previously.

Why is there so little empathy to newborns,like their life is worthless. So sad that so many women lack morals and empathy- to a defensless child who did not ask to be created but who suffered agonizing death because of someone elses decisions.

It's absolutely correct that she be prosecuted. She's admitted lying and aborting at 30+ weeks is just horrific.

All the mitigations will be taken into accounts during the proceedings. It’s pointless second guessing what situation she was in at the time and I’m sure that her children’s welfare will be a priority when any decisions are taken in court.

So what? It wasn't born alive. It was in her body and she didn't want it to be. End of story.

As early as possible, as late as necessary.

I am 100% pro-abortion, but from reading the facts here it seemed she was well aware she was in third trimester.

This isnt a case of 'Prosecution for abortion.' The title is misleading.

I think she must have been very desperate if she was aware of how far gone she was to have aborted her unborn child- especially as at that point the baby would have been moving etc.

yes there were other options including adoption but you also have to consider her other children in that as well and the unborn- her other children would lose a sibling and that would have had an impact (although I don’t doubt this has also had a potentially much greater impact) and the unborn would have always thought why wasn’t I wanted, why didn’t my mum keep me when she did my older siblings.

it’s a very sad circumstance and I feel for all involved.

I think giving birth to and then murdering a newborn baby is worse- there is definitely other ways to go about it- there are mums who walk into hospitals or police stations and leave their baby there- and whilst this is not a great way to deal with the situation it is a way in which baby is safe, warm and found quickly.

Absolutely this

And there isn't one fucking statistic in the world to justify stripping away such a fundamental right for women like they have in the US

Under his Eye

The 1967 law does need an update but can you imagine all the drama it would cause?

I find it really hard to believe that any woman would do this other than out of sheer desperation. Especially if she had already had four other children.

We don't know her family circumstances or how the pregnancy came about. DD was born at 28 weeks and survived so I do find this quite disturbing but I don't see how prison is appropriate. Surely this woman needs proper psychiatric help. She will have to live with this for the rest of her life and I would imagine that would be a punishment in itself.

I actually have full empathy for that little baby.

But I also have empathy for her children, which you seem to lack.

I do agree with as early as possible as late as necessary but it's the deception in this case that is my concern, she knowingly lied, she knowingly obtained medication under false pretences. I don't think prison is the answer but I can't condone how she went about things.

It’s not all as black and white as you’re making it out to be Bloopsie.

I'm appalled that she took the pills at 32 to 34 weeks but to put her in prison the other four children losing their mum if she's a good parent will serve none

Every party who facilitated this abortion should be in prison, especially those who supplied the service. It's infanticide.

Some people seem to disagree with the abortion law in the UK.

In the UK you can't choose to kill a 34 week fetus just because you choose to. And I think most of the UK population would probably agree with that.

The view that women, for any reason, could kill babies up until birth is an extreme view and not the law.

I'm sure this women's extenuating circumstances and the needs of her still living children will be taken into account in the judgement and sentencing.

This woman lied to obtain these pills. The service that sent them is not responsible for the death.

In what way was the service provider at fault?

Where did you get that statistic?

It's not infanticide at all - read the legal definition of it.

She aborted a viable person, in my opinion it’s no different to Infanticide.

Many people who commit crimes do not mean to and still have to go to prison, I don’t really see how it’s any different.