UK: The 50th Anniversary of the Abortion Act

The 50th Anniversary of the Abortion Act
by David Paintin
First published: 19 October 2017
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.14919 View/save citation

The 1967 change in the law on abortion (therapeutic termination of pregnancy before viability, TOP) was driven both by the medical establishment and the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA). The doctors wanted confirmation that it was lawful for them to terminate a pregnancy that threatened the life of the woman or would result in grave injury to her health, and ALRA wanted a law that made safe termination by doctors so accessible that dangerous back-street TOPs would be eliminated. A new ‘Abortion Act’ would have to meet the aims of both.

Continued at source: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14919/full


New Zealand: Denied abortion: Woman discovers pregnancy at 4 months, 2 weeks

Denied abortion: Woman discovers pregnancy at 4 months, 2 weeks
15 Oct, 2017
By: Sarah Harris
Reporter, NZ Herald

Erica never wanted children.

Certainly not aged 22, on minimum wage as a waitress, regularly binge-drinking alcohol, and without a partner.

But the Auckland woman discovered when she was 18 weeks along that she was pregnant.

She tried to get an abortion but says she was told it was too late.

Continued at source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11928010


New Zealand: Antiquated abortion law a $20 million ‘box ticking exercise’

Antiquated abortion law a $20 million ‘box ticking exercise’
Monday 10th July 2017
The decriminalisation of abortion in New Zealand will save the taxpayer millions, a leading doctor says.

The Government has forked out more than $20 million since 2012 paying specialist doctors to sign off on abortions.

But one specialist has called the process “cruel”, and says a 40-year-old law necessitating the exercise needs to change.

Under the Crimes Act, it is illegal for a woman to have an abortion in New Zealand unless it has been approved by two highly-paid specialist doctors, called certifying consultants.

Continued at source: The Wireless: http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/antiquated-abortion-law-a-20-million-box-ticking-exercise


New Zealand: Is it time for abortion law reform?

Is it time for abortion law reform?

April 4, 2017

Falling pregnant is a life-changing experience. It was for A*, but not in the usual way.

"I was in a long-term relationship, it wasn't very healthy towards the end. I was using contraception for years and then all of a sudden something happened - I must have made a mistake with it and I was pregnant."

She didn't have the financial means or the support to raise a child.

"It was very sad, and I spent weeks agonising over what I should do and running over all the options in my mind, and it was a very upsetting time.

Continued at source: News Hub: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2017/04/is-it-time-for-abortion-law-reform.html


New Zealand: More than half NZers back legalising abortion – survey

More than half NZers back legalising abortion - survey
20 February 2017

Sally Murphy

More than 50 percent of people think an abortion should be legal if the woman does not want to be a mother or cannot afford another child, a new survey shows.

The Abortion Law Reform Association survey of 1000 people asked if abortion should be legal in seven different circumstances.

It found only 14 percent of people correctly estimated around one in four women have had an abortion.
Continued at source: Radio New Zealand: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324887/more-than-half-nzers-back-legalising-abortion-survey


New Zealand: Abortion demonstrations heat up outside Thames Hospital

Teresa Ramsey/FAIRFAX NZ.

Last updated 11:04 12/08/2016

Teresa Ramsey/Stuff.co.nz

Both sides of the abortion debate were represented for the first time outside Thames Hospital on Friday morning.

A pro-choice group demonstrated last week in opposition to Voice for Life demonstrators, who have staged protests on the corner of Mary and Mackay Streets for many years.

On Friday, both groups demonstrated on opposing street corners.

Both sides vow to demonstrate every Friday morning, which is when women enter the hospital for their abortions.

[continued at link]
Source: Stuff.co, New Zealand


New Zealand: Demonstration stirs up abortion debate

TERESA RAMSEY, FAIRFAX NZ. Pro choice demonstrators hold up their placards.

by Teresa Ramsey
Aug 5, 2016

The abortion debate is heating up in Thames with a pro-choice group now vowing to demonstrate each week alongside anti-abortion protesters.

More than 40 people attended a pro-choice community meeting in Thames on August 4, followed by the group's first pro-choice demonstration outside Thames Hospital on August 5.

Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRANZ) member Scott Summerfield said the aim of the demonstration was to support women seeking abortion services at the hospital.

[continued at link]
Source: Stuff.co