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Abortion and advice

There is quite a debate going on about an amendment that Nadine Dorries is promoting to the Health and Social Care Bill.

The first problem I have is that I have looked on the parliamentary website to find out precisely what the amendment is. I cannot find it. Hence it is difficult to comment precisely as to the amendment itself.

There are some simple principles, however.

It would be better if there were fewer abortions. The best way of achieving this is improved contraception. If a women is to have an abortion then the earlier this happens the better.

If, however, a woman has decided to have an abortion then she should not be forced into undergoing a long counselling process.

There, should, however be independent advice and counselling available for those who want it. Those advisors who work for providers are clearly subject to a conflict of interest. However, that does not necessarily prevent them giving advice.

To me the key is to ensure that women are made aware of various sources of advice. The advisors themselves will tend to have a range of views.

Martin Narey has talked about persuading women to go to term and have the child adopted. I am uncomfortable about anything that involves pressurising women to do this although of course it is an option as it has been in the past.

Comments

Jerry said…
Why is Martin Narey so obsessed with Adoption, the system cannot cope as it is without his mumbo jumbo spouting off all the time, I really think the fella has had too many bumps on the head, women should be allowed to make their choice alone, no pressures from the state or others, how difficult a decision it actually is put undue stresses on the expectant mother, last thing they want to become is just a baby factory cause that's what it seems to me Martin is aiming at

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