Abortion is legal in Great Britain if two doctors decide in good faith that in relation to a particular pregnancy one or more of the grounds specified in the Abortion Act are met (1).
A - the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated: Abortion Act 1967 as amended, Section 1(1)(c).
B - the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman: Section 1(1)(b).
C - the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman: Section 1(1)(a).
D - the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of any existing child(ren) of the family of the pregnant woman: Section 1(1)(a).16
E - 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: Section 1(1)(d).
The Act also permits abortion to be performed in an emergency if a doctor is of the opinion formed in good faith that termination is immediately necessary:
F - to save the life of the pregnant woman: Section 1(4)
G - to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman: Section 1(4).
Reference:
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