U.K. Parliament To Consider Embryonic Stem Cell Research Legislation With Implications For Abortion Law

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;  Abortion
Article Date: 07 Apr 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The House of Commons is set to consider legislation on human embryonic stem cell research, USA Today reports. The most controversial piece of the legislation would formalize parliamentary approval for the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for stem cell research. Embryos would be prevented by law from developing past 14 days. Both abortion rights supporters and opponents expect that the debate will trigger efforts to modify the country's abortion law, which has been in effect since 1990, according to USA Today.

Both sides have launched petitions and are lobbying members of Parliament to change the country's abortion law. Abortion-rights opponents are calling for a reduction in the time during which women can legally receive an abortion from 24 weeks' gestation to 20 weeks' gestation. Supporters of abortion rights want to maintain the current 24-week limit on abortions. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the Labour Party favors keeping the 24-week limit. David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, favors lowering the limit to 20 weeks' gestation. Abortion-rights opponents also are calling for the elimination of a provision that allows abortions of fetuses with genetic abnormalities. Antiabortion advocates also want to require physicians to provide information about alternatives to abortion.

Abortion-rights groups want to loosen a requirement that two physicians must provide a referral before an abortion can be performed. Rebecca Findlay -- spokesperson for FPA, formerly known as the Family Planning Association -- said that either one physician or a nurse should provide referrals for abortions, delete just as with any other medical procedure.

A March 16 Sunday Times poll found that 48% of British residents support reducing the time limit on abortions to 20 weeks' gestation and that 35% want to maintain the 24-week limit. Julia Millington, political coordinator of the antiabortion Alive and Kicking Campaign, said that this is the "first opportunity" abortion-rights opponents have had to lobby for a change in the U.K. policy in 18 years, adding, "[W]e've got to take it." Findlay said, "Both side have camps in Parliament and are gearing up" (Stinson, USA Today, 4/3).

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