Abortion, Beyond the Backstreet BBC Wales

[Pumpkinsarepurple]

Currently on BBC1 Wales, but in time will be available on i-player.

The programme features interviews with women who had backstreet abortions and documents the campaign to enable women to have safe abortions on request.

Whatever your opinion on abortion this is a hard programme to watch, especially the testimonies from the women themselves describing the barbaric processes they endured.

Features interviews with David Steel , police officers at the time and doctors.

This should be compulsory viewing for any misguided campaigners trying to cut back women’s abortion rights.
You can’t stop abortion- you can only stop safe abortion.
I was eleven when it became legal in Britain, and thankfully in all my years as a doctor I only saw one patient who had tried to abort herself, and was seriously ill with septicaemia. It used to be a common occurrence.

I-player link for the programme

Babdoc that is horrendous. I can't imagine being a nurse or doctor during the 60s on a women's ward and seeing the after effects of backstreet abortions on a regular basis. Apparently several of the London hospitals specifically opened on the weekend for women suffering after an abortion because payday was Friday & therefore the day they could afford to pay for their backstreet abortion.
I edited the above programme and in my 20 odd year career have never worked on anything so emotive, shocking and raw. Those testimonials by the women who opened up about their abortions are vital. They need to be heard. There are constant attacks on the right to abortion in this country. We cannot risk going back to a situation where women are bleeding to death or suffering terrible complications that effect the rest of their lives.
I'd love more people to watch this, because those experiences shouldn't be forgotten.
Pumpkinsarepurple thankyou for posting about this.

My grandmother had eight children. Why?

I was too scared to go to one of those people.

Thank you for the link. What a very powerful programme.

My goodness the horror of it all before the Abortion Act. Those women's testimonies are brave and courageous. They are wonderful women and I salute you all!

Marking place - to remind me to watch this later. Thanks for bringing this programme to my attention, Pumpkins.

In countries like Nicaragua, where avoid illegal in all cases, there are massive numbers of abortions. Absolutely huge. Unsafe, illegal, not regulated.