Oct 31, 2007

Today the Science and Technology Committee published their report on scientific developments relating to the Abortion Act 1967. Predictably, the Committee’s recommendations favour the agenda of the pro-abortion lobby, and in particular have ignored most recent developments in survival rates of premature babies.

‘The majority of the public may not be aware of the excellent survival rates of premature babies in specialist neonatal centres throughout the UK. Nevertheless, we are all familiar with the amazing images of babies like Millie McDonagh born at 22-weeks gestation weighing 1lb 4oz. Millie from Manchester celebrated her first birthday last Saturday.

‘The Committee’s failure to consider evidence of the vast improvement in the survival rates of babies born before the 24-week abortion time limit is staggering. They focussed exclusively on one study, the EPICure study, without considering the incredible work being done by specialist neonatal units both nationally and internationally.

‘However, using the survival rates of babies born prematurely to determine the viability of aborted babies is obviously flawed. The premature baby arrives early because there is a problem with the pregnancy. In the majority of cases the aborted baby is healthy. The most significant data on this issue relates to the babies who have survived attempts to end their lives and were born alive after abortion. Yet the Committee have completely disregarded this evidence.

‘Despite receiving an equal balance of written evidence from pro-life and pro-abortion organisations and individuals, 75% of the witnesses called to give oral evidence adopted a pro-abortion position. Attempts to discredit the evidence of the pro-life witnesses on the basis of their pro-life credentials were particularly distasteful, especially given that four out of the the five pro-life witnesses are highly qualified medical professionals. The fact that many of the pro-abortion witnesses were not only espousing their own ideological viewpoint, but also have a financial interest in abortion was never even raised by the Committee.

‘This Committee cherry-picked their evidence to support their pro-choice ideological position.

‘It is only thanks to the courage of MPs Nadine Dorries and Bob Spink who have issued a valuable Minority Report, that any proper assessment of scientific developments in abortion will be put before Parliament and the public. They at least are to be congratulated.’

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