Ireland – Caitlin Moran: let’s be upfront about abortion

Caitlin Moran: let’s be upfront about abortion
‘Abortion is not “contentious”; it has been used by aunts, bosses, teachers and this columnist’

Feb 23, 2019

Three weeks ago, an episode of Call the Midwife, set in the pre-Abortion Act world of 1962, centred on a pregnant woman who sought out a back-street termination, then died from complications.

When any broadcaster puts out a show dealing with life-changing issues, we know what the usual protocol is. An announcement over the closing credits, as we sigh, shiver or palm tears from our face: “For anyone affected by the issues in tonight’s show, there is help and information on our website.”

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/caitlin-moran-lets-be-upfront-about-abortion-9skdvbv86

23.02.2019

Featured

Opinion

1967 Abortion Act

abortion is not contentious

BBC Action Line

BBC and abortion

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

BBC’s Action Line adds abortion information, but it’s hard to find

(Two pro-choice letters at link)
BBC’s Action Line adds abortion information, but it’s hard to find
Corporation’s view that procedure is ‘contentious’ is nothing new

Tue 19 Feb 2019

Sadly the BBC’s view that legal abortion is a “contentious” issue is nothing new (BBC under fire over failure to offer abortion information on Action Line, 15 February).

More than a year ago I was invited to take part in a World at One broadcast “to celebrate” 50 years of legal abortion in Britain. During telephone conversations about arrangements, I learned that an anti abortion MP (who recently, in the House of Commons, made the opposition speech during a 10-minute rule bill designed to update the outdated 1967 legislation) was also invited.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/19/bbc-action-line-abortion-hard-to-find-letters

19.02.2019

Birmingham Abortion Rights Group

BBC provides abortion information after Call the Midwife row

BBC provides abortion information after Call the Midwife row
BBC had said it could not offer advice because abortion was a ‘contentious’ issue

Catherine Avery
Sun 17 Feb 2019

The BBC has said it will give viewers information about abortion after it was criticised following an episode of the popular drama Call the Midwife.

Women complained that no information was provided on the BBC Action Line after an episode, broadcast this month, in which a patient died following an illegal backstreet abortion.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/17/bbc-provides-abortion-information-after-call-the-midwife-row

BBC drops ban on giving abortion advice after Call the Midwife row

BBC drops ban on giving abortion advice after Call the Midwife row

Caroline Wheeler and Nicholas Hellen
February 17 2019

The BBC has bowed to pressure to provide viewers with information about abortion after two ministers intervened in a row sparked by an episode of the drama series Call the Midwife.

Penny Mordaunt, the women and equalities minister, and Jackie Doyle-Price, a health minister, wrote to the BBC to complain about its initial refusal to provide information about terminations after the February 3 episode in which a character died after a backstreet abortion.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/bbc-drops-ban-on-giving-abortion-advice-after-call-the-midwife-row-hv9d5zd73

BBC condemned for ‘completely outdated’ abortion position by women’s healthcare organisations

BBC condemned for 'completely outdated' abortion position by women’s healthcare organisations
'We were absolutely shocked by corporation's stance,' says spokesperson for UK’s largest provider

Maya Oppenheim, Women's Correspondent @mayaoppenheim
Feb 13, 2019

Women’s healthcare organisations have voiced outrage over the BBC's “completely outdated” position on abortion after the broadcaster failed to provide information on its website because the issue was deemed too "contentious".

The furore surfaced after last week’s episode of period drama Call the Midwife in which one of the characters died as a result of complications from an illegal “backstreet” abortion.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-abortion-call-the-midwife-bpas-family-planning-action-line-a8779206.html

13.02.2019