Department of Health – Chief Medical Officer Guidance under the Abortion Act 1967
A lot of public debate has ensued over the decision not to prosecute 2 doctors following an abortion sting by the Daily Telegraph in 2012. After these events, the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies published guidance for medical practitioners on their obligations under the Abortion Act 1967. A copy of this guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/215147/dh_132849.pdf
The abortion debate continues
For a lively and current debate about the issues surrounding legalised abortion listen to BBC’s Moral Maze at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=Moral%20Maze
Director of Public Prosecutions gives fuller reasons for decision not to prosecute doctors over abortion
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has decided it is not in the public interest to prosecute 2 doctors who were caught in a Daily Telegraph sting involving a fake female patient requesting an abortion procedure. There was insufficient evidence to prove that either doctor was willing to perform an abortion on fetal sex grounds alone. He concluded that there was probably sufficient evidence for a prosecution based on the adequacy of their medical assessment of the risks to the mental and physical health of the patient ( and any children of the family). However, given the limited professional guidance, the wide discretion given to doctors in this area and the widespread practice of pre signing HSA/1 forms, there would be considerable uncertainity over the success of any prosecution. As such, it would not be in the public interest to prosecute. Interestingly, the DPP suggested that it was more appropriate in the circumstances for any assessment to be made by the General Medical Council. For full details of the decision go to: http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/dpp_abortion_case_fuller_reasons/
UK Health Care Law 