ABSTRACT
The Abortion Act 1967, came into effect on 27 April 1968. Various amendments have been made, the last (No 499) in 1991. 183 250 abortion procedures were undertaken in England and Wales in 1999. The trend in the abortion rate continues to rise (13-14 per 1000 women aged 15-44). The Maternal Mortality Report for 1994-1996 described one death related to therapeutic abortion. Death rates are detailed below. Importantly, there have been no reported deaths from illegal abortion in the last five triennial reports.
