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Tuesday, January 20, 1998 Published at 21:38 GMT
Talking Point
Should abortion laws be relaxed?
Should abortion be available on demand?
Britain's Health Secretary, has come under attack from anti-abortion campaigners for saying he wants it to be made easier for women to get an abortion early on in pregnancy.
At present British law, under the 1967 Abortion Act, permits an abortion with the signature of two doctors. The majority of abortions are allowed on the basis of the "... risk to the woman's mental health."
Frank Dobson said he was speaking personally, and was not outlining government policy. For British MPs abortion is seen as a matter of conscience. However, he has raised the issue of whether Britain's abortion laws should be changed.
Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, expresses his personal opinion.
Mr Dobson's comments coincide with the week of the 25th anniversary of the Roe vs Wade verdict in the USA. It was the Supreme Court's ruling on this case in 1973 that many abortion campaigners say permitted abortion on demand in America.
BBC Correspondent Bridget Kendal reports on the anti-abortion campaign in America, 25 years after abortion was legalised.
At the moment it is too easy, and the problems that can arise after the event are not, on the whole, discussed with the women...
Phil Paige, UK
If the fundamental right to life cannot be protected by the government, then how can their efforts to combat other social injustices be taken seriously...
Brian Doyle, Northern Ireland
The use of emotive words like 'murder' is not at all helpful to opening peoples' minds to a genuine examination of the morality and ethics of the situation...
B. Prendergast, UK
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