U.K. Nurses Enter Abortion Battleground

Could perform early-term procedures under new reading of 40-year-old law
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 27, 2007 12:53 PM CDT
U.K. Nurses Enter Abortion Battleground
'   (KRT Photos)

Specially trained nurses should be allowed to perform early-term surgical abortions without a doctor present, two U.K. medicos are arguing, based on a "wide interpretation" of Britain's 1967 Abortion Act. Though British nurses are currently allowed to carry out drug-induced abortions, they have been barred up to now from running surgical procedures. 

The two doctors argue that surgical abortion is comparable to inserting a catheter into the womb to deliver intrauterine contraceptives, a procedure nurses already perform. But pro-life groups are crying foul. Anthony Ozimic, of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said that the possible change would be, "getting nurses to do doctors' dirty work." (More reproductive rights stories.)

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