Anne Robinson and the law on abortion

I agree SueDonim and what surprised me about this programme was the fact that performing an abortion in any other place than a licensed clinic was still a criminal act. It should be decriminalised and provided there are safeguards women should be able to take a pill at home if they are in the very early stages of pregnancy.

In the eyes of the law a foetus isn't a baby, hence the difference. Also, you wouldn't be reporting a neglected baby, you'd be reporting the carer.

A woman is a living, thinking being. A early stage foetus is a clump of cells. Why should the woman maintain and nurture a clump of cells if she doesn't want to?

I hadn't realised until recently about the necessity of being in a licensed clinic. That does seem absurd.

I think it would be better if it was easier to get an early termination, which would then prevent delays.

Giving a foetus the right to life above the mothers right to choose? Why? I have a very dear friend from university days who is a very committed Christian. She would never have had an abortion but if I had ever been in that position she would have loved and supported me throughout the whole process with never a word of reproach or criticism. She would have just opened her heart and arms to me and enveloped me in unconditional love - as I said she is a Christian. Not like those who harass women attending abortion clinics or ( as in the USA) shoot a doctor who carries out abortions.

Yes I know it would be reporting the carer, what difference ?

In law, but tell any mother to be who is thrilled when her baby first moves , it not alive according to law

Wondered how long you could keep Christianity out of this discussion maryeliza, am sure you would manage it in a discussion on knitting

Why on earth would anyone want to keep Christianity out of a discussion on abortion - why do you think that it took so long for abortion to be legal here and what role do you think that Christianity plays in countries where it is still illegal - we only have to go across the Irish Sea to know about the suffering of women there because of bigoted misogynistic religion.#mybodymychoice

I was working in the Birmingham Women's Hospital a few years after the act came in - I was a medical SW there and got very involved in the assessments of mothers under the "social" clause of the act. The hospital was chosen as one of those to be involved in the research into the act.

It was an interesting exercise. One of the things that was very clear was that almost no women emerged from the process of abortion without some emotional consequences - indeed on several occasions they got pregnant straight away afterwards.

I found being involved in it all quite hard as I had and have mixed feelings about it all - I recognise a woman's right to choose, but deep down I find it hard to see it as just a bundle of cells.

I accept your views maryeliza , I did so in an early post .

You have little knowledge of being a Christian, what you don't understand is Christians are inviduals , we think for ourselves, agree on somethings not on others , there was a woman on the programme who was a Christian and anti abortion but not aggressive

Yes, a foetus/baby is alive but it is not capable of independent life at the stage when most abortions take place.

I do know someone who had numerous abortions as well as two children. The appalling job she made of raising those two children makes me think it's a good thing she didn't have more than that.

I absolutely understand that Christians are individuals - some are loving and non judgemental like my friend and others are harsh, authoritarian, judgemental, think women should be denied choice even if the pregnancy is the result of rape and incest. What I do know about Christisnity is that it is supposed to be about love above all - forcing a woman to be an incubator regardless of her wishes is about hate

1 Corinthians 13:13

And some believe an unborn child has a right to life .

Yes I know that and they are wrong - forcing a woman to carry to term and give birth is utterly wicked and hateful.

Those who believe an unborn child has a right to life are entitled to that POV. How far do you take that, though? Does its right to life supersede that of the mother's? What about if the mother drinks, takes drugs, smokes, engages in other risky behaviour? In America women have been imprisoned for having acted in ways which could be perceived as leading to miscarriage.

And taking the life of an unborn child is a good deed regardless of reason for doing so

Seerkeen your message at 02.50 this morning made me angry so I have not read further on, but what would you have said to my poor daughter who had to terminate her much-wanted pregnancy at 12 weeks because the baby was developing a rare and horrific form of dwarfism which would kill her in carrying to term? Would you deny her a termination and say she had to die? It happened 12 years ago and she is still upset. She and her husband, and in fact our whole family along with her, agonised over it. Not everything is as black and white as you seem to imagine. Have some compassion.

I’m sure everyone would rather live in a world where abortions were never necessary for whatever reason - that world never has and never will exist. Calling it a good deed is a silly phrase but it’s better than the alternative

Sparkle, how tragic, no one would want that for a woman , I hope your daughter had a healthy pregnancy after that heartache

I didnt see whichever progamme this was, but i do think 24 weeks is very late unless the baby is badly deformed or some other genuine health problem
There is no need whatsoever for anyone to get pregnant these days,i know accidents can happen sometimes ,but there are too many young girls getting pregnant these days
I know one who recently had a second baby ,now the couple have split up,
Poor babies, no settled family for them,
I dont agree with Jacob ReeS Mogg who says there should be no abortion even for rape victims, but i believe people just accept it these days,if you want an abortion go and get one
There is not always a health reason why someone doesnt want the baby, but at 24 weeks its wrong in my opinion
There are lots of people im sure who would love to adopt a baby,
In the old days you had to marry the father or go into a mother and baby home then the baby would be adopted,
Not suggesting at all we go back to that, but young people especially are too free and easy, and should make sure they have some contraception , rather than abortion or an unwanted baby,which wasnt available then like today
I think if any abortion at all it should be in the very early stages,

I suppose it depends on one's definition of young people but if we're talking about teenagers, then you're wrong Valeriej43. Teenage pregnancies are at their lowest since records began and are less than half the rates they were in 1971.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35761826

The media seems to see the anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act as a great step forward and that it is intolerable that in some countries abortion is not freely available. For me the right to life is sacred. Recently some friends of mine lost their unborn baby at just before the limit for abortion. This was a perfectly formed baby that could have been killed legally.

DD2 was an unexpected teenage mother. Our lovely GD1 could have finished up as a dead foetus in a sluice room.

The Abortion Act has been abused. Accidents happen but there is no excuse for such a huge number of unwanted pregnancies these days.

Thank you Anniebach for your compassion regarding my daughter's situation. Interesting that no one else has mentioned it. Sigh. By the way, she did go on to have a healthy pregnancy thankfully, although it was an extremely worrying 9 months. I don't believe people can make these black and white pronouncements without having walked in someone else's shoes. Every case is different.

I'm pro choice all the way.
If you don't want an abortion don't get one.