Attitudes and practice of
gynaecologists towards
abortion in Northern Ireland
Colin Francome & Wendy Savage
Middlesex University
Fiapac conference 23.10.10 Seville
Abortion law in the British Isles
Until 1967 abortion was a crime under the 1861
Offences Against the Person Act punishable by
life imprisonment for the person doing the
abortion and the woman herself. In 1929
abortion to save the life of a woman was
allowed. Following the Bourne case in 1938
Justice MacNaughten ruled that abortion was
legal if ‘continuance of the pregnancvy would
wreck the woman’s mental or physical health’.
The 1967 Abortion Act


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This allowed an abortion to be performed in GB
if two doctors certified in good faith that it was
necessary on a number of grounds.
This law did not apply to Northern Ireland
which still relies on the 1861 OAPA (which
dates back to 1803) as amended in 1945.
Neither does the 1929 Infant Life Preservation
Act apply in Northern Ireland but the 1945
Criminal Justice Act (NI) made same exception
NI women travel to GB for abortions
 At
least 50,000 women are known to
have travelled to UK since 1968
 Prenatal screening is carried out but if
the woman has a fetal anomaly
detected she cannot legally have an
abortion in NI –unless she threatens
suicide
The study methodology
 43
consultants identified by contacting
hospitals by phone. One retired by
time Q sent out so sample size was 42
 Questionnaires were sent three times
 2 refusals
 37 (88%) questionnaires received
Question 1
Research carried out by Marie Stopes International found that
95% of women from Northern Ireland traveling abroad for their
abortion would prefer access in Northern Ireland. Do you think
that the law in Northern Ireland should be changed to permit
abortions to be carried out on a wider range of circumstances, be
further restricted or remain the same?’
Abortion law should be liberalised
Stay the same
Restricted
21 (57%)
12 (32%)
4 (11%)
Question 2
Would you agree that abortion should be legal in
Northern Ireland in the following circumstances
HIV positive
Yes 41% No 49% Unsure 10%
Fetal abnormality Yes 76% No 10% Unsure 13%
Rape
Yes 68% No 22% Unsure 10%
Question 4
If the law was changed would you personally agree to carry
out a termination if the woman wanted an abortion in
the following circumstances?
HIV
Would perform 32% would not 65%
Fetal anomalyWould perform 70% would not 27%
Rape
Would perform 49% would not 51%
On request in first trimester Would perform 14%
Would not perform 85%
Question 3
Many countries in Europe including Italy, France,
Holland, Germany and Belgium allpw women the right
to choose an abortion in the first trimester( up to 12
weeks) Do you think women in Northern Ireland should
have unrestricted access to abortion in the first trimester?
Yes 13 (35%) No 19 (51%) Don’t know 5 (14%)
Younger doctors split 50:50 older against 2:1
Question 5
Would you support the major abortion charities being
licensed to carry out abortions in Northern Ireland within
the extent of the current law?
In favour
Against
Don’t know
19 (51%)
14 (38%)
4 (11%)
Question 6
If the law remains unchanged do you agree that women
should have parity with the rest of the UK and not have
to pay for an abortion in England?
In favour
Opposed
Unsure
29 (78%)
3 (8%)
5 (14%)
Question 7
If you were asked to treat a woman experiencing post
abortion complications following the use of abortion
medication online, would you report the woman to the
PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) ?
Yes
Depends
No
2 (5%)
1 (3%)
34 (92%)
Policy implications
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Law should be changed as UK is signatory to
CEDAW statement but unlikely to happen
NHS should agree to pay for abortions for
women from Northern Ireland who have to
travel to UK. We should lobby for this
The charities bpas and MSI should set up a
clinic jointly in NI to do legal abortions
Publication
This paper Attitudes and practice of
gynaecologists towards abortion in Northern
Ireland has been accepted by the Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Colin Francome is Emeritus Professor
and Wendy Savage Honorary Professor at
Middlesex University Dept of health and Socail
Science. She is also coordinator of Doctors for a
Woman’s Choice on Abortion (DWCA)
www.dwca.org email wdsavage@doctors.org.uk