Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister :-
“The guidance issued on abortion from 21 October is troubling in two regards.
“First, it anticipates abortions well outside the much campaigned for demand of “fatal fetal abnormality” by expanding that to include “serious fetal anomaly”. For interpretation of “fetal anomaly” it references guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).
“NICE says this:-
Fetal anomaly
Defined as pregnancies falling within section 1(1)(d) of the 1967 Abortion Act. This covers pregnancies where 2 medical practitioners are of the opinion that ‘there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped’.
“So, the handicapped can now be readily aborted! In truth, even if it is stretched, as in GB, to cleft pallets, it is open season because the revocation of Sections 58 & 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act means there is no longer any criminal sanction available.
“My second major concern about this guidance relates to its de minimus approach to conscientious objection. Such is restricted to immediate “hands on” involvement in providing the abortion, meaning conscientious objectors have no rights when it comes to the tasks essential to setting up and overseeing abortions. I do not believe this adequately meets the expectations of Art 9 & 10 of the ECHR.
“Whereas, this is guidance only for the interim period from October 2019 until March 2020, it sets a dangerous and unacceptable course.”