was a horrifying, alities were high
ed a massive sac of pus in eritoneum. We tried to n it but pus oozed from abdomen.
But when a woman came s with complications, we ver asked what had pened because if a doctor d out, he would have to m the police. But by ng the women, we were elding the abortionist, t of us would have wished ars. It was a dilemma. reatment was illegal, they They performed a service sed. It was not their fault cally untrained – the blame.” om Call the Midwife is clear – backstreet abortions were dangerous and life-threatening, but so were the laws that forced women to take such drastic measures. Even though abortion has been legal in the UK, under certain circumstances, since 1967, a woman has to have the permission of two doctors to have the procedure.
It is still governed by the 1861 Offences Against the Person
Act, which criminalised abortion and threatened women with life imprisonment for ending a pregnancy.
So a woman buying abortion pills online today without the permission of two doctors could potentially face prosecution. In Northern Ireland abortion is still illegal, in most circumstances, meaning pregnant women are forced to travel to England if they want to terminate a pregnancy.
Just last year, abortion was made legal in the Republic of Ireland during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or later if the woman’s health is at risk.
“We have won a lot of battles,” says Diane. “But there is still a lot to do. The 1967 Abortion Act is totally out of date with women’s rights and the technology to bring abortion about.
“If we are going to get that changed, women are going to have to speak out.”
The 1967 Abortion Act is out of date with women’s rights DIANE MUNDAY CAMPAIGNER