Abortion debate

This is still only too true in far too many countries. There is a clear relationship between the provision of a safe, legal abortion service and low rates of maternal mortality.

He also fails to report that the vast majority of abortions in Scotland are performed by the NHS and not by private providers and that Nadine Dorries’ proposed legislative amendment would, therefore, presumably have little impact in Scotland.

Finally, he states that a woman’s right to choose is an established principle. This, too, is not technically correct. The Abortion Act places all the authority in the hands of two doctors who are required to judge whether a woman’s situation fulfils the requirements of the act.

There is no mention of women’s rights. If the act were to be amended, a much more worthwhile and progressive change would be to categorically state the “de facto” situation, ie that the right to an abortion is a woman’s choice, albeit it must be an informed and “counselled” one.

(Dr) Christopher Lennox

Douglas Avenue

Glasgow

Having spent a good part of my career studying the Christian Right in the USA, where apparently minor administrative changes have been used to reduce the availability of abortion, I am seriously concerned about government willingness to accede to the demands of very small but well-funded anti-abortion groups.

One does not have to like abortion to appreciate that making it more difficult to obtain will result in more unwanted children being born to mothers who are poorly placed to offer a child a decent start in life and in more dangerous back-street abortions.

Our current system works well and should be vigorously defended against those whose real agenda is the promotion of a minority religious viewpoint.

(Prof) Steve Bruce

Oldmeldrum

Inverurie