BMJ  2007;335:903 (3 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39381.521481.DB

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No evidence backs reduction in abortion time limit, minister says

Margate

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

No medical evidence indicates that the limit of 24 weeks for abortions in the United Kingdom should be reduced, according to a government minister.

The health minister Dawn Primarolo defended the existing time limit in UK law when she gave evidence to the House of Commons science and technology committee last week, as part of its inquiry into whether abortion laws in England and Wales need to be updated.

"The Department of Health's view and the advice to me is . . . that the act works as intended and doesn't require further amendment at the present time," Ms Primarolo told the committee's MPs. She said this was why there were no proposals from the government to amend the act.

The minister said that most abortions (89%) took place in the first trimester and that 11% of babies born at 23 weeks survive, while the viability is 1% at 22 . . . [Full text of this article]

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