A leading pregnancy doctor has complained over the lack of access to late-term abortions in the UK.
In an article for The Guardian, Professor Lesley Regan, head of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, claimed that the UK abortion system is “in crisis”.
She complained that there aren’t enough specialists to carry out surgical abortions at a late stage of pregnancy.
Unwanted pregnancies
Prof Regan told the newspaper: “When my generation goes, there will be very few people who have any experience. Less than a handful of consultants in England are doing late surgical abortions.”
She was joined by Clare Murphy, Director of External Affairs for abortion giant BPAS, who said many hospitals are “not equipped to carry out a termination late in pregnancy”.
Murphy said: “Unless this situation is addressed urgently, more and more women will have to continue with pregnancies they don’t want”.
‘Learning opportunities’
Earlier this year it emerged that less than one per cent of trainee obstetricians and gynaecologists are taking advanced training on how to carry out late-term abortions.
Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood, editor of the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, claimed the low percentage means medical trainees are deprived of “valuable learning opportunities”.
Commenting on the figure, John Smeaton, then chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, suggested that it might, “reflect a natural human reluctance amongst trainee obstetricians and gynaecologists to kill babies in the womb”.
‘Deplorable’
Simon Calvert, Deputy Director for Public Affairs at The Christian Institute, said:
“The fact that only one per cent of trainee obstetricians and gynaecologists are taking higher training in abortion is not a ‘crisis’ for medicine, but it may reflect the crisis of conscience that many medics feel about abortion.
“The more we develop treatments for unborn babies, the more people realise how indefensible abortion is.”
Abortion on demand
Last month, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists voted to back abortion on demand, despite a revolt from members.
It will now lobby the Government to decriminalise abortions, mimicking the stance of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, who started a campaign in February 2016.