UK: Every fifth abortion clinic breaks the law!?

Undercover journalists working for the Daily Telegraph found that many abortion clinics, both private and NHS, agreed to perform abortions simply because the parents decided they were expecting a baby of the "wrong" gender. Shocking footage in which an abortion doctor arranged an illegal abortion for a patient pregnant with a girl triggered an investigation. The findings? Even more shocking spot checks have found one in five abortion clinics breaks the law.

The inquiry started as the result of a Daily Telegraph report, in which journalists accompanied pregnant women who claimed they wanted an abortion because they were expecting a baby of the wrong gender. A shocking about of clinics agreed, and many didn't ask any questions at all. If you are interested in learning more about this, read: "He said it was not just a matter of enforcing the law. There is the risk that women don't get the appropriate level of pre-abortion support and counselling because, if your attitude is that, 'You ve arrived for an abortion and you should have one, well actually many women don't get the degree of support they should, said Mr Lansley." Doctors agreeing to abort fetus of "wrong gender" investigated.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) started surprise check-ups of more than 250 private and NHS abortion clinics. Over 50 were found in violation of the law, mainly relating to pre-signed consent forms. The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said that he was shocked by the commission's findings. The prevailing view is that anyone should be able to have an abortion easily in these clinics, and the law doesn't play an important role in that.

"There is the risk that women don't get the appropriate level of pre-abortion support and counselling because, if your attitude is that, 'You ve arrived for an abortion and you should have one, well actually many women don't get the degree of support they should," the British Health Secretary said, explaining that this attitude makes enforcing the laws so much harder for the Department of Health.

The investigation is still ongoing, so who knows what else this commission will find! What are your views about this, and how do you think the abortion situation in Great Britain compares to that in the US?