Monday, March 10, 2014

Democracy? Not from where I'm sitting

David Cameron, you will remember, is the man who, despite the fact that most people didn't want it, insisted on legalising same-sex marriage.

Now the Christian Institute says his Government has been responsible for what it calls the biggest liberalisation of abortion procedures since 1967.

The Abortion Act says that two doctors must certify that they are of the opinion, formed in good faith, that the woman complies with a legal ground for abortion. Guidance from 1999 says doctors "must give their opinions on the reasons under the Act for the termination following consultation with the woman."

Former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told Parliament in March 2012 that he would consult on new guidelines for abortion providers outside the NHS. The institute says new interim guidelines were sent to clinics in July 2012 - 17 months before the public consultation began. They said that doctors did not need to see women seeking an abortion.

The new rules were intended to address the problem of doctors pre-signing abortion forms and of sex-selection abortions. They did neither.

A poll taken for the institute shows almost 90 per cent of people thought that a woman considering an abortion should be seen by a doctor, and 76 per cent believed that not doing so would put the woman's health at risk

The Government is to allow a free vote for MPs and peers on Lord Falconer's controversial assisted suicide bill, and is said to have made it clear it will not stand in the way of a change in the law. Norman Lamb, the minister responsible for care for elderly and the disabled, was among the first at the weekend to say he would vote in favour.

Lord Falconer's bill is the fourth on assisted suicide to come before the House of Lords in the last decade. The other three were voted down. 

It's almost like someone has decided assisted suicide ought to be legal, and lawmakers are being given new chances to vote until they get it right.

If this is democracy, I don't care for it.

No comments: