Following a challenge from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), controversial guidance on abortion has been withdrawn. After a long running legal battle, Northern Ireland Assembly’s health department announced on 13 July 2010 that it has withdrawn its interim guidance, which made no mention of the counselling of women or the rights of medical staff. The department also announced the launch of a public consultation on the abortion guidance.
Liam Gibson from SPUC commented:
"We are very pleased that the health minister has withdrawn the interim guidance. This was the aim of the SPUC's application for a judicial review, due to be heard in September. The health minister has done the sensible thing by withdrawing the guidance. Otherwise he would have been ordered by the courts for a second time to withdraw it.
Both the information given to women and the rights of medical personnel are central to clinical practice. We believe that any guidance which says nothing about these issues is fundamentally flawed, and should never have been published. The department finally seems to have accepted that.
Until now, the health department has acted in a high-handed and belligerent manner regarding the guidance. The department appeared determined to pursue its own agenda, rather than apply the law. We will be working closely with pro-life members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and its health committee to ensure that the department's consultation does not result in the rights of women, unborn children or the medical profession being undermined.”
Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless the mother’s life is at risk. During 2009, 195,743 abortions were performed in England and Wales.
Andrea Minichiello Williams commented: “We welcome this victory as it helps to protect some of the most vulnerable in society - pregnant women and unborn children. It also helps to protect medical staff. Northern Ireland should be commended for continuing to resist the legalisation of abortion and for preserving the sanctity of life.”