News

The UK’s House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology has announced that it will conduct an inquiry into scientific developments relevant to the 1967 Abortion Act. The inquiry will not be concerned with the moral and ethical isses surrounding abortion, but with scientific evidence that has a bearing on the current legal limit for abortion (24 weeks’ gestation), the potential impact of relaxing current restrictions on early-stage (first trimester) abortions, and the beneficial or adverse health outcomes associated with abortion.

Scientific advances in genetics and genetic diagnosis are likely to come within the scope of the inquiry, as the stage at which diagnosis can be carried out may be relevant to the legal time limit for abortion. Clinical geneticists may also wish to contribute to discussion of “whether a scientific definition of serious abnormality is required or desirable in respect of abortion allowed beyond 24 weeks”.

Written evidence should be sent to the Committee by 2 September and oral evidence sessions will begin in the autumn.