Doctors address abortion law

LONDON -- In a letter to Parliament, the Guild of Catholic Doctors has called on the British government to reduce the legal gestation period for abortions.

British society finds late-term abortions in particular to be "abhorrent," the doctors said.

The guild said it was deeply concerned that abortion is "the usual outcome" of screening tests for disabilities before birth.

Abortion is legal in Britain up to the fast 24 weeks of pregnancy if there is a risk to the physical or mental health of the mother. About 98 percent of the 200,000 abortions each year are carried out for such reasons.

In cases where the mother risks grave, permanent injury or the baby is seriously disabled, abortions are allowed up to birth.

--Catholic News Service

COPYRIGHT 2007 National Catholic Reporter
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning