The 1967 Abortion Act gave a legal defence to those carrying out abortions in England, Scotland and Wales. The original Abortion Act allowed abortions upto 28 weeks, this was revised by the Human Fertility and Embryology Act in 1990 to 24 weeks (due to advances in medical technologies more and more premature babies were able to survive - were 'viable' - before 28 weeks).This year MPs voted for the first time since 1990 on whether to reduce the abortion upper limit, ultimately voting to keep it at 24 weeks.
'Gordon Brown voted against any reduction after insisting there was no medical evidence to justify a change in the law' [21st May 2008 Telegraph.co.uk]
Find out more here and about some of the arguments for and against, then leave your comments.
Should the upper limit have been reduced...or increased....should abortions be legal at all?
