Experiences of women refused National Health Service abortion

Ashton, J.R.

Journal of Biosocial Science 12(2): 201-210

1980


ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320
PMID: 7372700
DOI: 10.1017/s0021932080006098
Document Number: 574941
Of 197 Wessex women undergoing a legal abortion at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinic at Brighton, England, UK, 31 (15.7%) had been refused a termination of pregnancy by at least 1 National Health Service doctor in Wessex. Almost all of these pregnancies were terminated for reasons covered by the social clause of the 1967 Abortion Act. The principal reasons given for refusal of termination were that the women had insufficient grounds for termination under the Abortion Act or that they were also too late. Some were given misleading information. Refusal of an operation may have led to 1 woman having a 2nd trimester rather a 1st trimester procedure when she went to BPAS. Some of these patients reported medical consultations which they found upsetting or hurtful. The interests of women seeking abortion and of doctors opposed to abortion would be best served if the Health Authorities were to provide alternative referral pathways to special abortion facilities.

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