ABORTION AND THE LAW

Starter – Using homework discuss what the UK law is and whether you agree with it.

Homework – none today. Books in.

Learning Objectives:- To understand what the

law in the UK is and how this has developed, including the 1967 act.

To examine the issues with the law.

To consider whether you agree with the UK law on abortion.

ABORTION FACTS

Take key notes from the video. http://www.truetube.co.uk/ethics-and-re

ligion/moral-decisions/abortion-the-facts

Using the following slide, highlight the key points then summarise in your book.

1967 ABORTION ACT

Abortion Act 1967 Subject to the provisions of this section, a person shall not be guilty of an

offence under the law relating to abortion when a pregnancy is terminated by a registered medical practitioner if two registered medical practitioners are of the opinion, formed in good faith—

a)that the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and that 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 or any existing children of her family; or

(b)that the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman; or

(c)that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated; or

(d)that 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.

ABORTION SCENARIOS

In pairs, complete applied scenarios sheet using your understanding of the law.

Extension – Do you agree with the law in the UK? Explain your opinion.

PLENARY

BSB Abortion Act 2011 – re-write the law. What bits would you keep? What bits would you change?