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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Elizabeth Peacock (Conservative), on Wednesday, 3 July 1996, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 72 members in total.

PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION

That this House notes that earlier this year the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommended that, in late abortions, doctors should ensure the foetus was killed at the outset (suggesting injections of potassium chloride in to the heart in cases of drug-induced abortions) in order to avoid possible charges of murder should the child be born alive and subsequently die; further notes that the College is opposed to outlawing the technique of partial birth abortion used in late pregnancy; notes that this technique involves withdrawing the foetus through the birth canal until only the head remains inside when the bottom of the skull is pierced and the brains sucked out, thus collapsing the head; notes that this would conform with the College guidelines to ensure that the child was born dead; further notes that replies to parliamentary questions clearly show that abortion notification forms fail to specify if abortions are carried out by this method; notes that even before the tenth week of pregnancy foetal structures relating to pain are present and functional, meaning that the child could die in agony; and calls for the immediate banning of this barbaric technique excepting in cases of immediate necessity to save the life of the mother if no other means is possible.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION (1093A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by John Austin (primary, Labour) and tabled on Tuesday, 9 July 1996. It has been signed by 26 members in total.
leave out from `die' to end and add `and to avoid unnecessary distress to the woman having the abortion; further notes that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Medical Association are opposed to the outlawing of any specific method of abortion, including intact dilation and abortion, because such a ban would undermine a doctor's ability to act in the best intersts of his or her patient in the very rare circumstances when such a procedure might be necessary; believes that the opposition expressed by the Royal Colleges is appropriate, as it is not the role of Parliament to regulate the details of clinical procedures and that, within the regulations of their profession, doctors must have the clinical freedom to choose the method of treatment considered appropriate in that specific clinical situation; further notes that the vast majority of late abortions are the reluctant choise of women with wanted pregnancies and that restrictions of clinically appropriate procedures will increase their suffering and distress and threaten their healthand well-being.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
1093 
1093A1 
Session
1995-96
Subjects
Abortion
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk