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Abortion Act 1967
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Abortion Act 1967 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to regulate abortion by registered practitioners, and the free provision of such medical aid through the National Health Service(NHS).
It was introduced by David (later Lord) Steel as a Private Member's Bill, but was backed by the government, and after a heated debate and a free vote passed on 27 October 1967, coming into effect on 27 April 1968.
The act made abortion legal in the UK up to 28 weeks gestation. In 1990, the law was amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: abortion became legal only up to 24 weeks except in cases where it was necessary to save the life of the woman, there was evidence of extreme fetal abnormality, or there was a grave risk of physical or mental injury to the woman.
As of 2005, abortions after 24 weeks were extremely rare, fewer than 200 a year, accounting for 0.1% of all abortions.
The act does not extend to Northern Ireland. Abortion is only legal there if the life or the mental or physical health of the woman is at "serious risk".
- Official text of the statute as amended and in force today within the United Kingdom, from the UK Statute Law Database
- Kira Cochrane, "Time to speak up", The Guardian (UK), October 27, 2006
UK Parliament Inquiry: Scientific developments relating to the Abortion Act 1967, House of Commons Press Notice, 20 June 2007.
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| History & overview | Case law, History of abortion law, Laws by country |
| Types of regulation | Buffer zones, Conscience clauses, Fetal protection, Informed consent, Late-term restrictions, Parental involvement, Spousal consent |