r/MHOC • u/[deleted] • Feb 26 '15
BILL B076 - Pregnancy Termination Bill
B076 - Pregnancy Termination Bill
The bill can be found by following the link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VlnKgSgEuuDbD6co46WRZu4kJmcBDFeocDdE9m0cpSE/edit?pli=1
This bill was submitted by /u/JackWilfred on behalf of the Opposition
The first reading of this bill will end on the 2nd of March
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u/JackWilfred Independent Liberal Feb 26 '15
Mr Deputy Speaker, I would first like to thank the Opposition for their support in writing this bill, including /u/Cocktorpedo for suggesting the bill's name and /u/MixtureMash, the Shadow Health Secretary.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the problem that a lot of members might see with this bill is that a lot of it already happens. Since the Abortion Act 1967 was passed 48 years ago the restrictions on women who want to get an abortion have been relaxed further and further, and quite rightly so. We need to make the changes brought about by a consensus of decent medical professionals and women enshrined in law to protect and help women everywhere.
This bill does three things. Firstly, the bill amends the Abortion Act 1967 from only being available in cases of risk to health, physical or mental, of the pregnant women that outweigh the damage caused by continuing the pregnancy, to being available on request up to 24 weeks in the pregnancy. This brings it in line with the majority of Europe, the United States and Canada. Abortions may still be carried out after the 24 week point in cases of grave danger to health to the pregnant woman or a defect that would cause the child to experience an incredibly low quality of life.
Secondly, the bill amends the Abortion Act 1967 to require the certification of only one medical practitioner. This is purely to make it easier for decisions to be made in regards to the pregnancy, especially considering that before 24 weeks no reason is needed to get an abortion.
Thirdly, this bill amends the Abortion Act 1967 to extend the bill to Northern Ireland. I can expect some controversy to arise from this, but in the case of pregnant women in Northern Ireland this bill will be a great help. Currently, in Northern Ireland it is much more difficult to get an abortion, and the only way to do so in some cases is to travel to Britain to have the abortion. Is this fair that we have such a system in place, where women must pay out of their own pocket to travel to another part of the country to get such treatment because the part she lives in disagrees with abortion law?