Call to cut abortion time limit flawed

11.28.48am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 31st Oct 2006

Opposing a private member's bill to be presented to Parliament later today, leading medical MP Dr Evan Harris (Lib Dem, Oxford West and Abingdon) said:

"This plan is deeply flawed in principle and practice. There is no scientific or ethical basis for a cut in the time limit to 21 weeks, which would prevent many vulnerable women from getting access to abortion services they need for no clear reason."

"Many MPs would support an enquiry into whether there is any medical or ethical basis for reducing the upper time limit or improving access to early abortion, but would oppose a random and ill-thought attempt to restrict abortions as this proposal would", said Dr Harris, a member of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee which last year proposed such a review.

Dr Harris, who was elected by doctors to the BMA Medical Ethics Committee last year, said:

"It is unethical to impose an arbitrary and compulsory 10 day delay in delivering necessary treatment as Nadine Dorries proposes. No other medical procedure is subjected to a "cooling-off period" because doctors already have a duty to ensure they obtain informed consent for treatments, but also respect the autonomy of their patients."