Over 100,000 sign petition calling for reduction to abortion closing date

A petition signed by over 102,000 people calling for the abortion closing date to be lowered to 22 weeks has been handed in to Downing Street. 

The petition was organised by Right to Life UK and was delivered to 10 Downing Street together with a bunch of MPs and fogeys of youngsters who were born at 22 and 23 weeks. 

They say that the abortion closing date ought to be lowered from the present 24 weeks consistent with advances in medical science which have led to more very premature babies surviving. 

“In 1990, the abortion limit was reduced from 28 to 24 weeks resulting from the increased probability of survival for very premature babies. In the 30 years since then, medical technology has greatly improved and babies are increasingly prone to survive at earlier gestations,” the petition reads.

“The latest guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine enables doctors to intervene to save lots of premature babies from 22 weeks. The latest research indicates that a major variety of babies born at 22 or 23 weeks gestation can survive outside the womb, and this number increases with proactive perinatal care.

“This leaves an actual contradiction in British law. In one room of a hospital, doctors may very well be working to save lots of a baby born alive at 23 weeks whilst, in one other room of the identical hospital, a physician could perform an abortion that might end the lifetime of a baby at the identical age.”

Proposals to lower the present closing date are included in a landmark amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill tabled by a cross-party group of over 30 MPs led by Caroline Ansell.

The call is supported by 750 medical professionals who’ve written to all 650 MPs urging them to back the amendment. 

Jade Crane from Derbyshire, mum to Harry and Harley, who were born at 22 weeks and five days, was among the many parents delivering the petition.

“Ever since Harry and Harley were born, we have been determined to indicate that babies born at 22 weeks can survive, because here they’re, our little warriors, thriving at home,” she said. 

“It’s crazy to think that there are babies being aborted at 24 weeks when our twins were born at 22. It doesn’t make any sense.

“Our little ones, born at 22 weeks, reside proof of what medical advancements can achieve. It’s time the law reflects this reality and the abortion limit is reduced to 22 weeks.

“We’re calling on MPs across the UK to vote in favour of the amendment to scale back the abortion closing date from 24 to 22 weeks. Babies within the womb at 22 weeks, which is as young as Harry and Harley were once they were born, should be given a probability at life – they’re tiny humans, but humans nonetheless.”

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said: “This petition is certainly one of the biggest petitions delivered to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street during the last yr.

“It’s unbelievable to see that a tremendous 102,573 people have joined parents of youngsters born at 22 and 23 weeks together with over 750 medical professionals to call for a discount to our abortion closing date.

“This demonstrates the overwhelming support from most people for Caroline Ansell’s amendment to lower the abortion closing date from 24 to 22 weeks consistent with advances in medical science.”