UK abortion law

The current abortion law applies to England, Wales and Scotland. It allows abortion up to 24-weeks gestation for healthy babies. Babies with a disability can be aborted up to birth. The law requires two doctors to certify that the pregnant woman fulfils one of the grounds in the Abortion Act. An abortion must be performed by a doctor either in a hospital or in an independent sector place approved by the Secretary of State to perform abortions. In Northern Ireland abortions can only be performed when he mother's life is at risk.

Grounds as follows:

1. the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated;
2. the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman;
3. the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman;
4. the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of any existing child(ren) of the family of the pregnant woman;
5. there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped;

or in emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary:

6. to save the life of the pregnant woman; or
7. to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

Under the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, a time limit of 24 weeks applies to abortions under statutory grounds C and D. Statutory grounds A, B and E, F and G are without time limit.