Abortion report: No pain at 24-weeks

Friday, 25 June 2010 4:00 PM

By politics.co.uk staff

Foetuses cannot feel pain in the womb before 24 weeks a report has found, strengthening the hand of those who wish to keep abortion laws as they stand.

The review, conducted by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, was sparked by demands from MPs on the science and technology committee during the last parliament.

It is the first time the issue of pain in the womb has been investigated since the Commons voted to keep the current 24-week limit on abortions.

The authors found brain connections are not full-formed before the 24 week period, and that the womb acts to induce a state of sleep in the foetus.

Evidence was also produced today as to definitions of physical and mental abnormalities which could result in 'serious handicap', and therefore justify termination.

The Royal College decided against producing a list of conditions due to difficulties predicting the long-term impact of the handicap. That move will particularly annoy anti-abortion campaigners, who insist abortions are now taking place for more and more trivial conditions.

The last time MPs looked at the 1967 Abortion Act they roundly rejected a reduction in the 24 week limit. Today's report vastly reduces any chance of that vote taking place again in the near future.

Tags:
• domestic policy
,
• equality