The termination of a pregnancy is potentially one of the most difficult and harrowing decisions a woman can make. This process of decision-making has a profound impact on the practice of medicine. Doctors have to be aware of their legal and ethical duties to the patient, even though these may be at odds with their own personal morals or beliefs, and without unnecessarily intruding on the privacy of the patient concerning their decision. In particular the doctor should pay consideration to the fact that it is the patient (and their family) who have to deal with the emotional and personal consequences of their decision.

In 2001, 186,274 terminations were carried out in the UK, 88% because it was considered a risk to the mother's mental or physical health. Eighty-three per cent of terminations were performed before 12 weeks gestational age.

ETHICS

Abortion has been a contentious issue for many centuries in the UK, although both the level of debate and the politicisation of abortion are not as comprehensive or polarising as in the USA, where potential presidential candidates are expected to make their sentiments known on the subject (and where doctors have been murdered for performing abortions), or in other countries around the world (notably, countries where Islam or Catholicism is the predominant religion).

The abortion issue encompasses a number of different views and value systems.