What is a legal abortion?
The 1967 Abortion Act makes abortion legal if the pregnancy is less than 24 weeks and two doctors agree that the abortion can be carried out. The two doctors need to agree that one or more of the following apply: The woman’s life is at greater risk by continuing the pregnancy than terminating it. The termination is necessary to prevent permanent injury to the woman’s physical or mental health. There is a reasonable risk that if the child were born it would suffer from serious physical or mental handicaps. There is a reasonable risk that if the child were born, any existing children the woman has are more likely to suffer injury to their physical or mental health. The way doctors interpret the law will depend on their own personal feelings about abortion. Some doctors may take the woman’s social and economic circumstances into consideration. After 24 weeks an abortion can only take place if the woman’s life is in danger or if there is a high risk that the baby would be seriously handica
