This abortion pause is a rewind and a step backwards!

The Abortion Act is 40 years old yet still the decision to terminate a pregnancy is shrouded with stigma not to mention the emotional and physical trauma that accompanies it. What women need in the second decade of the Twenty First Century is definitely better support more information but fewer obstacles.

That’s why I am skeptical about the government’s new proposal regarding compulsory advice to women before getting an abortion. Besides it sounding backwards, compulsory anything does not sit well with me – because anything forced is mostly intrusive and strikes me as authoritarian! As conservatives we trust people to make choices for themselves because we believe people are much happier running their own lives making their own decisions because they know best what works for them. And what bigger decision can there be for any woman of any age from any background of any faith than the decision to keep or terminate an unwanted pregnancy!

Government has a place and that is to protect its people and support those who need help, and although this proposal on the surface of it might seem like protecting the mother and the unborn foetus. Making it essential infringes on the right of the mother to make a choice and nudges her into carrying to term an unwanted pregnancy – that can be seen as a move to making abortions illegal by the back-door and that’s bonkers and very dangerous. As it sets women back decades and infringes on their rights and liberty.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that there are some women who use abortions as a form of contraception; there are also those who later regret having a termination but going by Nadine Dorries’ own study this group is the minority, they make up one third of all abortions in the UK. Most women who seek a termination think long and hard before having one which in itself is a very stressful process and doesn’t need to be made worst by undue pressure from the state. This proposed waiting tactics is extremely damaging specially for those women who require an immediate termination, prolonging their suffering with a compulsory pause is inhumane.

In this day and age, women who seek termination don’t need delays or any guilt trip tactics. What they need is better information, psychological support, improved follow-ups and understanding of the long term implications of the procedure, yes there are a few who need a cooling period and can do with a pause but not at the expenses of the many who know and are sure of what they want.

For the Department of Health to force this proposal before it has even been debated is undemocratic and irresponsible. However with enough pressure form women and women groups we can force a rethink – to all women out there please call, write, email and lobby your MP – this pause will set us back 40 plus years and that is unacceptable. Here’s the link