Decriminalisation of Abortion

[Son of Mathonwy]

Contentious issue. While I'm pro-choice I am wondering if this has gone too far? If I understand this correctly, there will (if this makes it into law) be no penalty for abortion at any stage. So while it would be murder to kill a premature baby born at 8 months it is nothing to abort a baby of the same age. This doesn't seem right to me. Why do we protect babies, anyway? I know there are grey areas but at least under the current rules it the oldest aborted foetus would be extremely premature if born.

My feeling is that late abortion should at least be a civil offence.

On top of this, I'm concerned that this will be seen as liberal overreach etc. and provoke a backlash which will reduce abortion access in the long run.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... n-vote-mps

[Which Tyler]

My understanding (and I absolutely reserve the right to be wrong) is that it's still illegal outside of the existing frameworks, but IS now a civil offence, but more to the point, it's the person providing the abortion, rather than the expectant mother who faces criminal charges.
I understand that there were 3 amendments posted, and this was in the middle of the 3 for increasing rights.

And as for backlash, (usual NB about my understanding) is that it's a backlash against UK MAGAs being emboldened by the States ditching Roe v Wade.
Something like 3 prosecutions in 40 years, then 9 in 1 year.

[Sandydragon]

My understanding (and I absolutely reserve the right to be wrong) is that it's still illegal outside of the existing frameworks, but IS now a civil offence, but more to the point, it's the person providing the abortion, rather than the expectant mother who faces criminal charges.
I understand that there were 3 amendments posted, and this was in the middle of the 3 for increasing rights.

And as for backlash, (usual NB about my understanding) is that it's a backlash against UK MAGAs being emboldened by the States ditching Roe v Wade.
Something like 3 prosecutions in 40 years, then 9 in 1 year.

That’s my understanding too. You can’t just decide at late term to abort for no good reason. If there’s a concerns it’s possibly that if the weight of the law now falls on abortion providers, then women might revert to other methods, risking their own health but knowing that they won’t be prosecuted. I’m not sure how the law stacks up on that point.

[Son of Mathonwy]

My understanding (and I absolutely reserve the right to be wrong) is that it's still illegal outside of the existing frameworks, but IS now a civil offence, but more to the point, it's the person providing the abortion, rather than the expectant mother who faces criminal charges.
I understand that there were 3 amendments posted, and this was in the middle of the 3 for increasing rights.

And as for backlash, (usual NB about my understanding) is that it's a backlash against UK MAGAs being emboldened by the States ditching Roe v Wade.
Something like 3 prosecutions in 40 years, then 9 in 1 year.

That’s my understanding too. You can’t just decide at late term to abort for no good reason. If there’s a concerns it’s possibly that if the weight of the law now falls on abortion providers, then women might revert to other methods, risking their own health but knowing that they won’t be prosecuted. I’m not sure how the law stacks up on that point.

It's very unclear - from a look at some of the reporting - whether women are now completely free from legal consequences or merely from criminal consequences re abortions. My guess is completely free?

[Sandydragon]

This has the feeling of being very rushed, which is normally a bad attribute for legislation.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

This has the feeling of being very rushed, which is normally a bad attribute for legislation.

I think they've had previous goes at this.

My understanding is that this prevents the prosecution of women. Doctors or abusive partners who are involved in a late term abortion would still be prosecutable.

I understand the worry about back alley abortions. However I'd have thought they are more likely to go for medication abortions past the recommendation which is relatively safe.

The MAGA type anti-abortionists can go fuck themselves. The only backlash is from them and the right wing loons who own the british press. Even the hard nuts in the CACD don't have the stomach for putting woman in prison for this.