Abortion risks
From Josephine Quintavalle
Sir: I too share Stuart Reid’s absolute position against all abortion (‘Abortion humbug’, 26 March). I am not, however, happy with his dismissal of attempts to lower the upper limit for abortion, on the basis that it will make termination more respectable. Mr Reid revisits the 1990 Act, and suggests that although it cut four weeks from the limit of most abortions, it also extended abortion up to birth for disabled foetuses.
This was indeed an unfortunate and unintended consequence of the brave efforts of pro-life parliamentarians, but Mr Reid should not overlook the consequence of bringing the upper limit down to 24 weeks. Abortion statistics post-1990 show a significant fall in the first five years, from 186,912 to 163,638 per year, and only return to the 1990 figures at around the millennium. For the record, but only as a statistical comparison, the number of unfortunate babies killed post-24-weeks averages at about 100 a year. Each and every unborn life is of equal value, and every abortion is one too many, but one can clearly argue that the efforts in 1990 did indeed save lives, and that it is time to kick-start the nation’s conscience once again.
Josephine Quintavalle London SW3
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