Anti-abortionists Get Nod to Clarify Abortion Guidelines

Anti-abortionists won a big battle in the High Court after the judge upheld their demand to get the government to clarify a document on abortion rules in Northern Ireland.

Abortion is currently illegal in the country, but is permissible if a mother's well-being is in danger or there is a question over her mental health.

The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (Spuc) had said that this guidance was misleading health professionals and asked for a review of the same.

Lord Justice Girvan ruled that the guidance would be withdrawn as it was misleading and that the language was "ambiguous." Liam Gibson of Spuc Northern Ireland was delighted with the decision, "We hope that the department will now take seriously many of the concerns which were largely disregarded when the guidelines were being drafted," Mr Gibson said.

However the Director of the Family Planning Association, Audrey Simpson expressed disappointment, "We have health professionals once again having to operate in a vacuum, not knowing what to do when a woman presents with them who may be entitled to an abortion in Northern Ireland," she said.




Source-Medindia
RAS