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MPs want to drop second doctor's signature for abortion

BMJ 2007; 335 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39386.700949.DB (Published 8 November 2007)
Cite this as: BMJ 2007;335:960.2

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  1. Adrian O'Dowd
  1. Margate

    Only one doctor's permission should be necessary for a woman to have an abortion, rather than the current UK legal requirement for two, MPs have recommended.

    The 24 week time limit for abortions to take place should be kept, the MPs also recommended in the newly published report from the parliamentary Science and Technology Committee on whether abortion laws need updating.

    The report, which focuses on issues capable of scientific evaluation rather than ethical considerations, says that the MPs are concerned that the requirement for two signatures to allow an abortion could be causing delays in access to abortion services and found no evidence of its …

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