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23/03/2012
Spot Checks Find Abortion Consent Forms Being 'Pre-Signed'
Spot checks at more than 250 abortion clinics has found that some doctors are breaking the law by "pre-signing" abortion consent forms.
The law currently states that, except in emergencies, two doctors must agree for a woman to have a termination, however the government has said the checks found evidence of blank forms being signed in anticipation of patients seeking a termination.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the inspections in England after being ordered by health secretary Andrew Lansley.
Lansley said: "I am shocked and appalled to learn that some clinics - which look after women in what are often difficult circumstances - may be allowing doctors to pre-sign abortion certificates. This is contrary to the spirit and the letter of the Abortion Act.
"The rules in the Abortion Act are there for a reason - to ensure there are safeguards for women before an abortion can be carried out. To protect women the right checks and balances must be in place.
"The CQC has agreed to undertake unannounced inspections to identify the scale of this problem. And we will set up a special team comprising of all the necessary regulators and the department to look at how we stamp out bad practice in abortion clinics."
(H)
The law currently states that, except in emergencies, two doctors must agree for a woman to have a termination, however the government has said the checks found evidence of blank forms being signed in anticipation of patients seeking a termination.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the inspections in England after being ordered by health secretary Andrew Lansley.
Lansley said: "I am shocked and appalled to learn that some clinics - which look after women in what are often difficult circumstances - may be allowing doctors to pre-sign abortion certificates. This is contrary to the spirit and the letter of the Abortion Act.
"The rules in the Abortion Act are there for a reason - to ensure there are safeguards for women before an abortion can be carried out. To protect women the right checks and balances must be in place.
"The CQC has agreed to undertake unannounced inspections to identify the scale of this problem. And we will set up a special team comprising of all the necessary regulators and the department to look at how we stamp out bad practice in abortion clinics."
(H)
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15 September 2006
Emergency pill fails to lower abortion rate
A family planning expert says that the availability of the emergency "morning after" pill has failed to significantly reduce the abortion rate. Easy over the counter availability of emergency contraception has not had a notable effect on rates of pregnancy and abortion, according to an editorial in this week’s British Medical Journal.
Emergency pill fails to lower abortion rate
A family planning expert says that the availability of the emergency "morning after" pill has failed to significantly reduce the abortion rate. Easy over the counter availability of emergency contraception has not had a notable effect on rates of pregnancy and abortion, according to an editorial in this week’s British Medical Journal.
21 September 2005
Late abortion referrals case ruled legal
A charity that referred a woman seeking a late abortion to a clinic abroad did not break the law, an inquiry has concluded. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) launched an investigation into the handling of late abortion cases by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, following newspaper allegations.
Late abortion referrals case ruled legal
A charity that referred a woman seeking a late abortion to a clinic abroad did not break the law, an inquiry has concluded. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) launched an investigation into the handling of late abortion cases by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, following newspaper allegations.
10 September 2012
Ministers Announce Scrapping Of Thousands Of Health And Safety Regulations
Ministers have announced plans to scrap or change more than 3000 health and safety regulations, exempting thousands of business from inspections.
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22 September 2011
Business Records Checks Programme Extended
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16 April 2007
Abortion services in crisis
Abortion services in Britain are facing a crisis because a number of NHS doctors are refusing to be involved in carrying out the procedure. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has warned the decline in doctors prepared to perform an abortion is a phenomenon that threatens to plunge the abortion service into chaos.
Abortion services in crisis
Abortion services in Britain are facing a crisis because a number of NHS doctors are refusing to be involved in carrying out the procedure. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has warned the decline in doctors prepared to perform an abortion is a phenomenon that threatens to plunge the abortion service into chaos.
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