ABSTRACT
With very few exceptions, all developed countries have health care systems which allow a woman access to abortion in the early stages of her pregnancy. The relevant legislation in England, Wales and Scotland (but not Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands) is the Abortion Act 1967, as amended in 1991. Under this Act, an abortion may take place providing two doctors acting in good faith certify that one or more of the clauses of the act are met. These clauses are: (a) the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the
pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated; (b) the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the
physical or mental health of the pregnant woman; (c) the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and the continuance of the
pregnancy would involve risk greater than if the pregnancy were terminated of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman;
(d) the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk greater than if the pregnancy were terminated of injury to the physical or mental health of any existing child or children of the family of the pregnant woman;
(e) there is a substantial risk that, if the child were born, it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.
