One signature is enough, says BMA
27 June 2007
One doctor’s signature is enough for abortion approval, the British Medical Association decided today.
At its annual meeting, the BMA expressed its support for legislation to be relaxed, requiring the approval of one doctor instead of two for women seeking an abortion.
Doctors felt that this would speed up access to abortions and therefore reduce risks to the patient.
MP Dr Evan Harris, member of the BMA medical ethics committee, said that distressed women seeking an abortion shouldn’t face “irrational barriers”.
He said: “Why should patients face potential delays leading to later abortion when first trimester abortion, and in particular early medical abortion in the first nine weeks, is known to be safer and easier.”
Expressing pleasure at the decision, Ann Furedi, Chief Executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said: “Today’s new policy is very good news for women. The doctors and ethicists at the BMA have seen the common sense in removing medically out-dated delays to women who need abortion.”
Pro-life organisation SPUC expressed fears that the move would encourage more abortions. Political secretary Anthony Ozimic said: "The call for abortion to be made more freely available in early pregnancy is inept.
“This would lead to even greater pressure on women, with less opportunity for them to reflect before making a decision, and therefore will lead to greater numbers of abortions.”
Michaela Aston of LIFE expressed similar concerns about removing 'safeguards'.
However, the BMA’s decision appears to reflect the medical community’s existing attitudes and practices instead of introducing a new direction.
The second signature is often a mere formality as doctors rarely disagree when recommending an abortion, according to Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Himansu Basu.
He said: “Largely on the basis of my experience of over 30 years, it’s very rare for a second doctor to disagree. They are therefore doing a rubber stamping, which takes time.”
Current legislation already allows a single signature in certain cases.
Dr Basu said: “This is the current law - if the abortion is recommended on the basis of preventing serious, grave injury to the woman’s health or risk to her life, then the one doctor’s signature is enough.
“So if you look at both ways, I believe having one doctor signing would bring it more in line with the current situation and would probably improve matters.”