Abortion Act 1967

Abortion Act 1967

Infobox UK Legislation
short_title=Abortion Act 1967
parliament=United Kingdom Parliament
long_title=An Act to amend and clarify the law relating to termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioners.
statute_book_chapter=1967 c. 87
introduced_by=David Steel
territorial_extent=England and Wales; Scotland
royal_assent=27 October 1967
commencement=27 April 1968
amendments=Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990
related_legislation=
status=Amended
original_text=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1967/pdf/ukpga_19670087_en.pdf
activeTextDocId=1181037

The Abortion Act 1967 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to regulate abortion by registered practitioners, and the free provision of such medical practises through the National Health Service (NHS).

It was introduced by David Steel as a Private Member's Bill, but was backed by the government, and after a heated debate and a free vote passed on 27 October 1967, coming into effect on 27 April 1968.

The act made abortion legal in the UK up to 28 weeks gestation. In 1990, the law was amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: abortion became legal only up to 24 weeks except in cases where it was necessary to save the life of the woman, there was evidence of extreme fetal abnormality, or there was a grave risk of physical or mental injury to the woman.

As of 2005, abortions after 24 weeks were extremely rare, fewer than 200 a year, accounting for 0.1% of all abortions.fact|date=October 2008

The act does not extend to Northern Ireland. Abortion is illegal there unless the doctor acts "only to save the life of the mother". The situation is the same as it was in England before the introduction of the Abortion Act. The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Criminal Justice Act remain in full force.

In May 2008 there was debate over whether the limit should be reduced further to just 12 weeks but no changes were made.fact|date=October 2008

References

*UK-SLD|1181037

External links

*Kira Cochrane, [http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,1932834,00.html "Time to speak up"] , "The Guardian" (UK), October 27, 2006
*UK Parliament Inquiry: [http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_and_technology_committee/scitech200607.cfm Scientific developments relating to the Abortion Act 1967] , House of Commons Press Notice, 20 June 2007.


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