Contrasting approaches to abortion between the UK and some parts of the US were shown in April, as legislation brought in or clarified in the differing jurisdictions demonstrated.
The Georgia House of Representatives gave final approval to legislation outlawing abortions after a foetal heartbeat can be detected. If enacted, it would be among the strictest abortion bans in the US. ‘Georgia values life. The legislature’s bold action reaffirms our priorities and who we are as a State,’ said Governor Kemp. The measure was approved by just one vote more than the majority needed to pass: 92 votes from the 180-member chamber. Following the vote, law enforcement confronted several Democrat lawmakers and protesters speaking against the bill in the halls of the capitol, threatening to arrest people if the crowd didn’t stop chanting ‘shame’ and disperse.
Georgia joined a string of other Republican-controlled States moving to enact strict abortion bans, with the ultimate goal of getting a case in front of the US Supreme Court to challenge its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalised abortion nationwide.
In contrast, the UK Department of Health and Social Care clarified, in a letter to doctors, that a baby can be removed from the womb after the start of week 24 of pregnancy, as long as the abortion drugs which cause termination are taken by week 23 and six days.
Feticide
In 2018 the Chief Medical Officer had signalled that ‘evacuation’ needed to be completed by 23+6. After representations on the issue and considering the matter further the letter stated that ‘the department is now satisfied that a feticide effectively ends the pregnancy and if it is at or before day 23+6, the pregnancy cannot be considered to have exceeded the 24th week even if evacuation has not yet taken place’.
‘Cide’ comes from the French word forming element meaning ‘killer’ and the Latin ‘cida’ meaning ‘cutter, killer, slayer’.
