general practitioners leading to late abortions. Few abortions performed after 21 weeks. change law would mean, almost abortions after weeks. The women hardest hit by this would • foreign women - four per cent of whom are more than 21 weeks pregnant by the time they have their abortion here.
who deny their pregnancy until • young women it's well advanced. • older with partıcular medical blems, or whose condition is not recognised by them or the doctor • women with suspected malformed foetuses - - for whom earlier diagnosis still not generally available.
In each case, RCOG make Tecome gallons diagnosis DelicI older women, more easily available sex education for young women, and so on.
But how will reducing the time limit help!
Most serious of all, it's clear from the report that avoidable delay is the most important reason for abortion.
Line report shows clear trend towards increasing use Ul lie privale has recommended a reducsector. One reason for this is because of delays within the National Health SerVICC.
(NAC treasurer)
Delays occur at three crucial times: between the woman's recognition her condition and first visit to the doctor; between that visit and referral to a consultant; ana between UnIC consultation the operation. Juicially. weeks may pass between each stage and abortions cannot wait.
The first delay, by the woman herself, can shortened bv increased Information and education.
Above all, it is shortened by 'self referral'. It is clear from the report that who Herei themselves to a consultant, for example gOLg private, suffer fewer delays.
Women present themselves late to their own doctor for fear of the they'll get, because they don't know the procedure. GPs delay for a number of reasons. Perhaps they're anti-abortion but not prepared to tell their patient.
Or they may belleve an KEEP IT LEGAL abortion for non-medical reasons should be private and not take up a hospital bed. Indeed, they believe a delay will lead the woman change her mollie Time limits increase the likelihood of such delay.
if women did not need permission from two docrefer themselves clinic, delay would be avoided. even higher proportion of abortions would take place earlier.
Delays at the consulfor similar reasons. They also occur because of cut-backs shortages within the health service.
Women Changing the law will not help. Increased facilities, with a massive growth dav-care facilities in particular, what's needed. This would cut costs because it would abortions, callci with less after-effects and aust aliva custo Time limits will be central to the National Abortion Campaign facilities on February. Women don't late abortions ally more than doctors All changes to make a real reduction in the time of abortion will be included in the action proposals debated at the final sesAnd we'll be working out how to counteract the anti-abortionists' latest moves, which inClude motion in signed by MPs of all parties calling for the Infant Life Preservation Act to be strictly implemented.
This disallows abortion once the foetus is capable being born alive' - a formula open to wide interpretation by doctors.
Such a move would help the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) and LIFE increase their spying on doctors.
It would lead to more threats of prosecution and women being denied HOIC the help they urgently If this motion sucHiccu. ceeds it will open the way Leonora Lloyd (centre) joins MP's Jo Richardson and lan Mikardo in abortion protest.
to further attacks on the 1967 Abortion Act, either by bill administrative methods.
The migratest li fought vigorously. won't be easy - late abor tions are an emotive subWe can be sure of a new series of 'live foetuse Ull the draining board stories in the headlines any day now The NAC conference is the first step in our fight back. Anur move ment bodies and women's organisations must • support it.
National Abortion Campaig Conference: 25 Februar Abortion rights and facilitie fight back against the antı-abortionis Mater sity et, London Vice , London WC! 10am till 5pm Registration: delegate-f3 • individuals-fl o unwagedanswerphone: 01-993 2071 Gord GLI Council officials had refused to give her unpaid leave while she serv. ed her sentence. she was released, Pat
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A RECENT REPORT from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) - based on a questionnaire sent to College members but not
tion in the time limit for abortions, from the present 28 weeks to 24. But the same report makes it clear that a change in the law will not solve the problems
creche available Contact NAC, 47 Wardrum Park Rd, SE23