Abortion debate
Chapter
2
ISSUES
: Abortion
Chapter 2: Abortion debate
20
Position statement from The Royal
College of Midwives
The RCM believes that:
Ö
Every woman should have
control over her own body and
her fertility.
Ö
Every woman should have the
right to exercise choice over all
aspects of her maternity care,
including whether to have a
baby or not.
Ö
Abortion procedures should be
regulated in the same way as
all other procedures relating to
women’s healthcare.
Ö
Every woman has the right to be
given the necessary information
to make an informed choice
regarding her decision as to
continuation of the pregnancy
or not.
Ö
Every woman has the right to be
given the necessary information
to make an informed choice
regarding the opportunities
provided within the law to
terminate pregnancy.
Ö
It is within the scope of
midwifery practice in the UK for
midwives to work with women
who are considering whether to
terminate their pregnancy and
who have made the decision
to terminate their pregnancy.
Midwifery practice must always
comply with the legal framework
relevant to the provision of such
services.
Ö
All midwives should be
prepared to care for women
before and after a termination in
a maternity unit under obstetric
care.
Ö
The rights of midwives or
maternity support workers to
hold a position of conscientious
objection, as described in the
1967 Abortion Act, should be
recognised but should only
apply to direct involvement in
the procedure of terminating
pregnancy.
Ö
Access to safe abortion services
is a fundamental healthcare
issue for women wherever they
live.
Ö
Women who are citizens of
the UK should have equitable
access to all aspects of
reproductive
healthcare.
Accordingly, the provision of
abortion services in Northern
Ireland should be brought into
line with the rest of the UK.
Published in 2016
Ö
The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from The Royal College
of Midwives. Please visit
for further
information.
© The Royal College of
Midwives 2016
