BMA, Briefing Paper on The Abortion Act 1967, November 2007 Summary of the BMA's position on the Abortion Act The BMA supports amending the Abortion Act 1967 so that, in the first trimester (up to 13 weeks): * abortion is available on the same basis of informed consent as other treatment, without the need to meet specific medical criteria * the requirement for two doctors to confirm that the abortion meets the legal criteria is removed. The BMA believes that: * any changes in relation to first trimester abortion should not impact adversely on the availability of later abortions. The BMA does not support: * any reduction in the current 24-week time limit * the extension of nurses or midwives roles in abortion under the Act * extending the current rules regarding “approved premises”.
Good Medical Practice describes what is expected of all doctors registered with the GMC. The guidance that follows, which is for all doctors, develops the duties and principles set out in Good Medical Practice and in our other guidance. It focuses on children and young people from birth until their 18th birthday
Assisted dying – a summary of the BMA’s position July 2006 At the BMA’s annual conference in Belfast on 29 June 2006, doctors voted by an overwhelming majority against legalising physician assisted suicide and euthanasia. The current policy is therefore that the BMA: (i) believes that the ongoing improvement in palliative care allows patients to die with dignity; (ii) insists that physician-assisted suicide should not be made legal in the UK; (iii) insists that voluntary euthanasia should not be made legal in the UK; (iv) insists that non-voluntary euthanasia should not be made legal in the UK; and, (v) insists that if euthanasia were legalised, there should be a clear demarcation between those doctors who would be involved in it and those who would not.