MPs to review abortion limits

MPs are to examine the limits on when, where and how a woman can have an abortion.

Medical advances made since the Abortion Act came into force in 1967 will be discussed by the Science and Technology Committee.

But the committee will not take evidence on the moral and ethical arguments over abortion.

The committee will focus on scientific and medical evidence about both the 24-week upper time limit for abortions and reforms, suggested by the British Medical Association, to the law around early abortions.

It will take evidence about huge advances in the last ten years in how early babies can survive outside the womb which has led to calls for the current upper time limit to be reduced.

Abortions are allowed beyond 24 weeks only if a serious abnormality with the foetus or a serious risk to mother's health is discovered. The committee will look at whether a scientific or medical definition of what constitutes abnormality is needed.

The MPs will also examine the risks of early abortion and the importance of getting two doctors to sign to agree to the procedure.

They will take evidence on the "practicalities and safety" of BMA proposals that nurses or midwives should be permitted to carry out abortions.

Suggestions that patients having a medical rather than a surgical abortion should be allowed to take the second of the two pills at home will also be looked at.

The inquiry has been ordered ahead of debates on the Human Tissue and Embryo Bill, which will include the current law on abortion, in the next session of Parliament.

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