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GENERAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN - ABORTION
Aim: Students should understand the issues surrounding abortions
Objective: Students should be able to construct a reasoned essay plan on the topic
Resources: Terminology OHP, statement cards, article
Alternative activities in pack:
Worksheet 2.6 - When does life begin?
Article - Does it matter what men think?
Time
10 mins
Activity
Intro - Key Facts
 Since the 1967 Abortion Act there have been more than 5 million
abortions carried out in UK
 500 abortions are carried out every day in the UK
 66% of women who have abortions are single
 In 1968 there were 22000 abortions, in 1998 there were 177000.
 The reason given for 91% of abortions in 1998 was that was a risk
to the mental or physical health of the mother.
Use OHP for 'key words' to ensure everyone understands and can use
appropriate terminology
20 mins
Give out article on 'Does Cleft Palate justify abortion?'
Students to read and make bullet points to summarise
Discuss issues raised by the article.
10 mins
In pairs rank the statement cards - most agree with to most disagree
with
Put two pairs together to compare results and discuss
10 mins
In small groups - using an example from any recent TV series you
may have watched, discuss the difficulties faced by someone thinking
of an abortion
Feedback to group
10 mins
Brainstorm on board essay plan for the following question:
"Do you think abortion is an issue that should be decided by law or
left to the individual mother? Give reasons for your answer."
TERMINOLOGY
Embryo - the organism between 14 days and the eighth week of gestation
Foetus - the developing human being between 14 weeks and birth
Pro-choice - the term used by those who consider that a woman's right to choose is
absolute
Pro-life - the term used by those who argue that a foetus is an innocent human
being, who should never be killed
Personhood consciousness - the ability to feel pain, a developed capacity for
reasoning, the ability to communicate and self-awareness
Viability - the term used to describe the independent survival of a foetus outside
the womb
Does a cleft palate justify an abortion? Curate wins right to challenge
doctors
Rebecca Allison
Tuesday December 2, 2003
The Guardian
Two of the country's leading judges yesterday paved the way for an
important high court test case to examine the criteria necessary for an
abortion to go ahead. In a decision which focuses on the human rights of
foetuses and could undermine a law which supporters insist has served
women well for 35 years, Lord Justice Rose and Mr Justice Jackson gave a
Church of England curate permission to challenge a decision by police not
to prosecute doctors who carried out an abortion on a foetus which had a
cleft lip and palate.
Medical ethicists have warned that the case could have wider implications if
as a result
Parliament decides against setting new rules in other areas of medicine
because it feels doctors cannot be trusted to follow them properly.
"It was quite clear in the 1990 parliamentary debate on amending the
Abortion Act that the clause on late abortion must not be used for such
trivial things as a cleft palate. If it [Parliament] decides that doctors cannot
be trusted to keep to the rules it is setting in areas such as this, then it may
in future decide not to set new rules at all," Richard Nicholson, editor of the
Bulletin of Medical Ethics, said.
The Rev Joanna Jepson, curate of St Michael's church in Chester, believes
the procedure at the centre of the controversy, which was carried out late in
the pregnancy, was "unlawful killing" and in breach of the abortion law. She
has said her legal action is partly an attack on the cult of perfection and
claims that the case raises the "increasingly worrying concern of eugenics
in our society".
The termination was carried out after the normal 24-week time limit, which
is only allowed in circumstances where the pregnancy is likely to result in
the baby being born with severe physical or mental disability. What
constitutes a "severe abnormality" is not fully defined by the law and allows
doctors to exercise clinical judgment as well as taking the mother's wishes
into consideration.
Ms Jepson, who was born with a congenital jaw defect that was not
corrected until her late teens, says a cleft palate is not a serious handicap
and the law should not allow abortions for "trivial reasons". The Cleft Lip
and Palate Association backed her case, saying it would never condone a
termination at 24 weeks if a foetus was diagnosed with a cleft palate and
had no other medical complications.
The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child also endorsed the young
cleric's campaign, which it suggested could be expanded to include all
disabilities. "We would like to stress that we don't regard the right to life as
dependent on any degree of handicap," the society's general secretary,
Paul Tully, said.
But Ms Jepson's critics are concerned that the case could undermine the
1967 Abortion Act. "We are flabbergasted that someone with absolutely no
connection to this case can be allowed to bring an action like this. It is
absolutely no business of hers," a spokesman for Marie Stopes
International said.
"Two doctors in consultation with this particular woman reached a
conclusion that it did constitute a serious handicap. It should not be for a
disgruntled member of the public to question what should be a very private
decision between a woman and her doctors. We too would like to see a
change in the law, but one which would allow abortion on request, thus
removing this whole questioning of women about their motives."
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service also criticised the decision to allow
the legal challenge to proceed. "When the law was passed it was
deliberately left vague for the decision to be made between the woman and
her doctors," a spokeswoman said.
Ms Jepson's initial application for a judicial review was rejected by a judge
last month. But at the high court in London yesterday Lord Justice Rose
and Mr Justice Jackson reversed that decision.
Mr Justice Jackson said the curate had "substantial hurdles" to overcome
in the next stage of her application for judicial review. But he added: "I am
persuaded, having listened to the statements of counsel, that this case
does raise serious issues of law and issues of public importance."
The abortion at the centre of the case was carried out in 2001 when the
unnamed woman, from Herefordshire, was more than 24 weeks pregnant.
Richard Gordon QC, for Ms Jepson, told the court the decision by West
Mercia police not to prosecute was incompatible with a section of the
Abortion Act which says that a post-24 week abortion can only take place if
"there is substantial risk that if the child is born it would suffer from severe
physical or mental disabilities".
The court was told that the force had taken advice from the Royal College
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists which said a cleft palate was a good
enough reason for the abortion.
But Mr Gordon said a cleft palate could not be considered a "severe"
disability within the meaning of the act.
Speaking after the hearing Ms Jepson, who insists she is not anti-abortion,
said: "My teenage years were difficult due to facial abnormality. I also have
a brother with Down's syndrome.
"We both live positive and fulfilling lives. The baby in this case did not have
this opportunity, despite the availability of excellent and routine medical
help. I hope we shall succeed at trial and recognise once again the value
and dignity of our common humanity, disabled or able-bodied, no matter
what we look like."
Risks to life and health that allow termination
The Abortion Act 1967
The act permits abortion by a doctor in an NHS hospital or approved
centre. Two doctors must agree in good faith that one or more of the
following criteria apply:
A The pregnancy involves more risk to the life of the woman than if the
pregnancy were terminated;
B The termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the
physical or mental health of the woman;
C The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the
pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the
pregnant woman;
D The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the
pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of any
existing child(ren) of the woman's family;
E There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from
such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped; or in
an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner, as immediately
necessary:
F To save the life of the pregnant woman;
G To prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the
pregnant woman.
Most abortions of unwanted pregnancies are carried out under grounds C
or D.
From the Office for National Statistics
"Chromosomal abnormalities were reported for about a third of cases under
ground E, other congenital malformations for about half. The most
commonly reported anomalies were of the nervous system (22%) and the
cardiovascular system (5%); Down's syndrome(20%) was the most
commonly reported chromosomal abnormality."
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990
Section 37 of the act changed the Abortion Act. It introduced a time limit of
24 weeks for grounds C and D. Grounds A, B and E are now without limit.
Previously, a 28 week limit applied for all grounds.
A foetus is not really a human being
Abortion is just another form of birth control
Abortion stops the birth of unwanted children
Legalised abortion stops the misery and exploitation of young girls trying to
conceal or escape from their pregnancy
Abortion must be allowed in the case of rape
Abortion is acceptable to avoid a person being born with severe disability
Late abortions should never be allowed
Abortion should be entirely the choice of the pregnant woman
A father should be able to stop a woman having an abortion
Abortion – Pro-Life Or Pro-Choice?
People often have very strong views about abortion. As I
keep stating, it will always come down to the individual
and their religion, upbringing, experiences and beliefs
which will explain their personal view on abortion.
bit wiser and to understand everyone’s view on abortion, here
are the arguments for and against abortion.Read this to be
clued up on everyone’s right of opinion and beliefs:
PRO-LIFE - People are often against legal abortion because they believe
that: Human life begins at conception and abortion destroys
respect for human life
 Abortion is a violent act that damages a mother and
her baby. It is uncivilised and unjust
 There are alternatives to abortion, such as adoption
 Abortion damages women because they suffer post
abortion guilt and trauma
 Abortion is rarely necessary to safe the life of the
woman
 Abortion encourages brutality and child-abuse
 Abortion on grounds of foetal abnormality encourages
discrimination against disabled people
PRO-CHOICE - People are often for legal abortion because they believe
that: The embryo or foetus should be respected as potential
human life but does not have the same value as a born
person
 Women are capable of making the right moral choices
and can follow their own consciences
 A pregnant woman understands her own personal
circumstances better than anyone else and so is in the
best position to know whether she should or should
not have a child
 Legal abortion is relatively safe and is likely to cause
the woman less harm than forcing her to continue her
pregnancy and have an unwanted child
 It is better for children to be born to parents who
want them and love them
 Public opinion supports legal abortion
 When abortion is illegal women tend to travel
elsewhere because they are so desperate to avoid
having to continue an unwanted pregnancy
How Late In A Pregnancy Can An Abortion Be Done?
 An abortion should be done as early as possible.
Most abortions are done during the first 12 weeks of
pregnancy because they are safest then. Sometimes
abortions are done as late as 20 weeks, but this is
very rare.
How Safe Is An Abortion?
 According to the experts "Abortions are very safe.
They are now one of the safest operations of all. And,
the earlier the abortion, the lower the chance of any
complications."
If I Have An Abortion Can I Still Have Children Later O
n?
 Yes. Women who have an early abortion are just
as likely as women in general to have a healthy
baby in the future.
Is An Abortion Painful?
 Local or general anaesthetic are used before an
abortion to control pain. Most women feel cramps
(like strong period cramps) for a short time. If a
women needs it, the doctor will give her extra
medication for any pain.
How Do You Feel After An Abortion?
 In general, women consider abortion because
being pregnant at that time is in some way wrong
for them. Most women feel relief after their
abortion and feel that they have made the right
decision for themselves.
 Some women feel sad or emotional afterwards
due to the w
hole experience. You may need a supportive
friend, relative or counsellor at this time.
 Researchers have found that an abortion does not
generally make a women feel bad about
themselves years later.
Do Many Teenagers Have Abortions?
 About 45% of pregnant teenagers choose to have
an abortion.
 Unfortunately, many other teenagers decide to
have an abortion too late in their pregnancies.
Either they don’t realise they are pregnant or they
don’t know what to do about it. That is why it is
important to see someone if you think you are
pregnant as then you can get all the help you need
and as quickly as possible.
Is It Wrong To Have An Abortion?
 Some religions think that abortion is wrong. For
example Roman Catholics. This is because they
believe that life begins at the moment of
conception and should be protected from this
time.
 However, other people believe that abortion is a
responsible decision, when a women cannot
handle a pregnancy or is in the situation to take
care of a child properly.
 It all comes down to everybody’s personal beliefs
and opinions.
Is It Legal To Have An Abortion?
 It is in most countries. For example, it is legal in
England, Wales and Scotland but not in Northern
Ireland or the Ireland Republic where abortion is
illegal. This is because the Irish religion is Roman
Catholic.
What Happens If I Live In Ireland?
 This is a very difficult question to answer. By Law,
Irish women must follow the law and the respect
their religion that abortion is illegal in their
country. However, as time has moved on, people
realise that we are all beginning to follow are personally
chosen religion and beliefs. Due to the much believed
freedom of rights and speech.
 Marie Stopes International can still help if you do
have an unplanned pregnancy and live in Ireland.
There is a centre based in Dublin which can help
you with advice and counselling. If you did choose
to go ahead with an abortion, you would then
have to travel to England for the procedure
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