Government loses abortion battle – BBC News

“The Department of Health has lost a court battle to keep secret some details on abortion statistics.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ruling on late abortion figures challenged in court – Daily Telegraph

“The Department of Health is making a High Court challenge today to stop figures being published on the number of late abortions on ‘less than perfect’ foetuses with physical abnormalities, including cleft palate and club foot.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Early abortion court challenge fails – The Guardian

“Women who want an abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy must continue to take the pills at the clinic and not at home, unless health secretary Andrew Lansley stipulates otherwise, a judge has ruled.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High court to rule on abortions at home – The Guardian

“The high court is due to rule on Monday in a landmark case that could make it easier for women to complete abortions at home.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abortion rule to be challenged in high court – The Guardian

“The Department of Health is today accused of allowing political considerations to prevail over the wellbeing of women who need an abortion in early pregnancy, by refusing to allow them to take the necessary pills in the comfort and security of their own home.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

ASA clears Marie Stopes TV ad – The Guardian

“The advertising watchdog has cleared the first British television advert to offer advice on abortion services, despite almost 5,000 complaints.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

R v Ahmed – WLR Daily

R v Ahmed; [2010] WLR (D) 219

“The act of procuring the miscarriage of a woman’s child did not, by itself, amount to an offence known to English law. Where a defendant was charged with an offence of supplying or procuring any instrument or thing, knowing that it was intended to be unlawfully used or employed with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman, the ‘thing’ supplied or procured had to be some sort of article or object and could not include a medical procedure. ‘Procure’ of the instrument or thing did not include the taking of possession of or use of an instrument or thing by a third person.”

WLR Daily, 2nd  August 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

First UK ad for abortion services draws 350 complaints – The Guardian

“ASA to assess criticism of TV campaign for sexual health charity Marie Stopes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jail for woman who killed unborn twins – The Independent

“A woman who killed her unborn twins after injecting herself with drugs to induce their birth was finally jailed today after going on the run.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Poison abortion bid doctor guilty – BBC News

“A doctor has been found guilty of poisoning his lover in a failed attempt to induce an abortion.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abortion ad rules review delayed – The Guardian

“Regulators have delayed publication of the results of a controversial review of the UK advertising code, which includes proposals that could allow abortion clinics to run TV commercials, until next year after receiving around 4,000 submissions.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abortion numbers for disabilities should be kept secret: Government lawyers – Daily Telegraph

“Releasing data on the number of abortions performed for conditions like clubroot and cleft palate may cause ‘mental distress or harm’ to vulnerable women and must be kept secret, lawyers for the Department of Health have argued.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th May 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Late abortion tribunal challenge – BBC News

“Pro-life campaigners are continuing their fight for the publication of details of late medical abortions. An information tribunal is set to hear a Department of Health appeal that such information should not be published.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unborn twins killer sent to jail – BBC News

“A woman who accidentally killed her unborn twins then blamed a midwife has been convicted in her absence at Bristol Crown Court.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers fight to keep late abortions secret – Daily Telegraph

“Late abortions of ‘less than perfect’ foetuses are the subject of a secrecy row with the Government.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs back embryology shakeup but abortion row continues – The Guardian

“The most significant shake-up of embryology laws for 20 years was last night approved by MPs, as the government faced down accusations of ‘shabby’ behaviour for thwarting the debate on abortion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd October 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Anger at abortion debate timing – BBC News

“MPs are set to debate the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, amid anger that Commons timetabling means amendments on abortion will be shelved.”

Full story

BBC News, 22nd October 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Harman to block Commons votes on liberalising abortion laws – The Guardian

“Harriet Harman is planning to block a series of Commons votes tomorrow to liberalise Britain’s abortion laws, which could have overturned a ban in Northern Ireland, in a move that was condemned as ‘disgraceful’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs give up battle to restrict abortions – The Observer

“Anti-abortion MPs last night abandoned their parliamentary fight for new restrictions, calling for the bitterly contested issue to be resolved by a high powered inquiry instead.”

Full story

The Observer, 19th October 2008

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Scrap qualifying conditions for abortion and let women decide, say academics – The Times

“Britain’s 40-year-old abortion law flouts the legal principles that underpin modern medical practice, 85 academic lawyers and ethicists say today.”

Full story 

The Times, 17th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Fertility reform held up by MPs, says watchdog – The Guardian

“Plans to overhaul Britain’s fertility laws have been held up by political squabbling over abortion rights, the head of the country’s fertility watchdog said yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th October 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs’ bid to change abortion laws – BBC News

“A cross-party group of MPs will attempt next week to end the requirement for a second doctor to give their approval for an abortion to take place.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs reject cut in abortion limit – BBC News

“The upper time limit for abortions will remain at 24 weeks after MPs voted against proposals to reduce it.”

Full story

BBC News, 21st May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Q&A: Abortion law – BBC News

“As MPs prepare to debate the upper time limit for abortions, what is the debate about and what are the current rules?”

Full story

BBC News, 20th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs to begin debate on embryology and abortion – The Guardian

“MPs will today begin a two-day debate that will affect the future of embryo research, IVF treatment and abortion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Human Fertilisation Bill has been hijacked, says Health minister – The Independent

“Dawn Primarolo, the Public Health minister, has accused MPs campaigning for a stricter law on abortion of having a hidden agenda which aims ultimately to prevent all terminations.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abortion debate: Gordon Brown to oppose 20-week limit change – Daily Telegraph

“An attempt to lower the legal abortion time limit will be opposed by Gordon Brown during next week’s vote on the issue.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs set to back new embryo research laws – The Guardian

“MPs will reject demands for tighter controls on abortion but are ready to allow new laws pushing back the boundary of research on human embryos, according to a survey carried out by the Guardian.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: What’s in the bill?

Plan to increase abortion sites – BBC News

“A consultation is to be launched over whether to relax abortion rules by allowing terminations outside hospital settings in England, ministers say.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law may change to allow ‘abortion on request’ – Daily Telegraph

“The Law may be changed to allow ‘abortion on request’ by ending the need for doctors to give permission for a termination, it has been disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abortion Act: Forty years of freedom to choose – The Independent

“On this day (27th April) in 1968, British women were liberated from the dangers of back-street procedures.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man laced pregnant wife’s meals with abortion pills – The Independent

“A businessman with an irrational fear of becoming a father has been jailed for almost four years after he laced his wife’s breakfast with abortion pills in an attempt to make her lose their unborn baby.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st March 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abortion libel claim by cardinal’s former aide – The Guardian

“The former spokesman for the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales was ‘robbed of his moral authority’ by a newspaper article which accused him of hypocrisy over abortion, the high court heard yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

GPs could provide women ‘tablet abortions’ – Daily Telegraph

“Women could have abortions in doctors’ surgeries under proposals being considered by the Department of Health, it has emerged.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk 

Ban proposed on disability abortions – The Times

“Pregnant women who find out that their baby has a serious disability would no longer be able to have an abortion under amendments to the law tabled in Parliament yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 1st December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Anti-abortion MPs take fight to Lords with foetus scans – The Independent

“Three-dimensional images of a foetus ‘walking’ in the womb are to be shown to MPs and peers by a cross-party alliance of campaigners in an attempt to persuade the House of Lords to tighten the law on abortion.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th November 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs try to cut abortion limit to 20 weeks – Daily Telegraph

“Labour and Conservative MPs are preparing to unite in a cross-party attempt to restrict access to abortion in Britain, The Daily Telegraph has learned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th November 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs call for abortion law reforms – BBC News

“There is no reason why women seeking an abortion should need the approval of two doctors, a group of MPs has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What next for Britain’s abortion law? – BBC News

“Forty years after the Abortion Act came into effect, terminations in Britain are running at 450 a day.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk  

Plans to relax law on early abortion – The Times

“The most extensive liberalisation of abortion laws for 40 years is being planned by MPs, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 25th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Forty years after Steel’s bill, is there a case for rethink on abortion law? – The Times

“It was 40 years ago that the bill was passed marking the end of back-street abortions and the beginning of women’s right to choose whether or not to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. David Steel’s aim was to avoid the deaths and misery arising from illegal terminations, at a time when abortions were only legal if the mother’s life was seen to be in danger. In the first full year of the bill coming into force, there were 55,000 abortions in the UK. Today, that figure has risen to 200,000 a year. As the anniversary of the law’s introduction approaches this weekend, the debate on abortions continues. Here, we examine where the interested parties stand.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Archbishop urges abortion review – BBC News

“The Archbishop of Canterbury has intervened in the debate over whether to reduce the time limit for abortions.”

Full story

BBC News, 21st October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Minister to tell MPs “no evidence” to support change in abortion law – The Independent

“The 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act will be marked this week with a fresh battle over the issue. On Wednesday, Dawn Primarolo, the Public Health minister, will tell a Commons committee investigating whether the law needs to be changed that she has had no scientific evidence to support a lowering of the upper time limit for abortion from 24 weeks.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd October 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Babies with minor disabilities aborted – Daily Telegraph

“More than 100 babies with minor disabilities, such as a cleft palate or club foot, were aborted in one area of England in a three-year period, statistics reveal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abortion inquiry asks scientists to disclose links to faith groups – The Guardian

“An influential inquiry into the future of Britain’s abortion laws will begin today amid controversy over an apparent attempt by faith-based organisations to skew the balance of evidence presented to the committee of MPs.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Two-signature rule on abortions should be abandoned, say doctors – The Guardian

“Women should no longer have to obtain the signatures of two doctors to have an early abortion, and the upper time limit for the procedure should remain at 24 weeks, doctors’ leaders said yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pro-choice lobby seeks change in law to ease restrictions on abortion – The Guardian

“Pro-choice campaigners are planning to use an international conference this autumn to urge legal change to ease restrictions governing abortion in Britain.”

Full story

The Guardain, 27th August 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cash settlement for woman who changed mind on abortion – The Guardian

“An NHS hospital trust has agreed to pay £27,500 compensation in an out-of-court settlement with a mother of three for aborting her unborn baby against her will and ignoring her attempts to withdraw her consent.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th July 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Change law to let nurses do abortions’ – Daily Telegraph

“Nurses and midwives should be allowed to perform early abortions, doctors will say next week.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs to consider cut in abortion time limit – The Guardian

“MPs are to launch an inquiry into the impact of scientific developments on abortion law, including whether medical advances in the care of very premature babies mean the 24-week time limit should be reduced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abortion numbers may intensify debate – Reuters

“An increasingly bitter debate as the Abortion Act marks its 40th year looks set to be reignited on Tuesday when the government publishes annual figures for the number of terminations.”

Full story

Reuters, 12th June 2007

Source: www.reuters.com

MPs to fight for abortion on demand – The Guardian

“Pro-abortion MPS are preparing for a bitter political battle in an attempt to bring in termination on demand in the first three months of pregnancy.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New bid to tighten abortion rules – The Guardian

“Women seeking an abortion could be forced to receive counselling under proposals being considered at Westminster today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Both sides in abortion row get ready for parliamentary battle – The Guardian

“Both sides in the battle over abortion rights are gearing up for a test of strength in parliament to see which of them has the political muscle either to liberalise David Steel’s 40-year-old legislation or to curb what opponents of abortion call ‘two Dunblane massacres a day’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jury convicts mother who destroyed foetus – Daily Telegraph

“A woman who had a backstreet abortion when she was seven-and-a-half months pregnant was convicted on a rare charge of child destruction yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Related link: Child destruction: charge is rarely used