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Abortion

Immoral, inhumane and a breach of human rights

A pro-life poster

That's the accusation of pro-life groups on abortion.

Julia Millington, political director at Pro-Life Alliance, says: "None of us should have the right to decide that another human being shouldn't live."

Pro-choice groups, however, say it's the practical issues that propel women to undergo abortion.

Practicality gets in the way

Sociologist Dr. Ellie Lee from Pro-Choice Forum says: "Women decide not to have babies in real life context of how much money you've got, where you're at your job and whether your bloke's going to leave you."

But pro-life groups say the tide is turning in their favour, even though the British Medical Association voted in late June to keep the 24-week limit.

Dr Ellie Lee, Pro-choice forum

The four-dimensional scans unveiled by Professor Stuart Campbell last year reignited the moral row.

They showed foetuses younger than 24 weeks more developed than previously thought.

Both Professor Campbell and Lord Steel, responsible for steering the Abortion Act 1967, have publicly talked about a review of the current law, which allows abortion of up to 24 weeks and in cases of severe disability, up till birth.

Morally wrong and medically unsafe

Anti-abortion lobby says accessibility is another problem, pointing to figures which show one in three women aged 20-24 will undergo abortion.

Margaret Cuthill of British Victims of Abortion says: "They have promoted this line that abortion is just a choice like choosing a brand of TV or Hoover."

They believe it represents a wider trend of the moral decline, which includes family planning clinics "giving away pills and condoms" indiscriminately.

BVA notes: "Abortion goes with promiscuous sex" in a post-Christian society where moral and personal standards no longer exists.

Pro-life lobby also accuses abortion as medically unsafe, and Cuthill believes up to 40-60% of women are left with psychological problems, known as "Post Abortion Trauma."

Dr Lee counters that studies indicated PAT is "observable but very low."

Is education the answer?

Lord Rea

Peer and former GP Lord Nicolas Rea says sex education can help avoid abortion.

“Netherlands and Sweden have the lowest teenage pregnancy rate and a very good program of health and sex education in schools.

“Which is one thing the moral right and the Catholics hate the idea of.”

General public opinion sides with pro-choice and have remained steady, especially on rape victims.

Still, the stir caused by Michael Howard's comments made pro-life lobby feels there are more voices in their favour, and the issue is rarely out of the news nowadays.

No compromise in sight

The only thing both camps agree is the need for a public debate and a review of the law.

Jane Ingram, Life

Even then, Jane Ingram of Life says while they would welcome a reduction in the upper limit, they are not willing to see concession such as making early abortion easier.

Rev Joanna Jepson, a Church of England curate who was instrumental in bringing to court the abortion of a 28-week old baby with a cleft palate, sends a warning note through Sunday Express:

"Murder in good faith is still a murder.