Story perspectives

Lords Introduce Bills on Abortion Complications, Infant Safeguards

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Lord Moylan and Baroness O’Loan will introduce Bills in House of Lords, dates on June 9 and June 11.
The Complications from Abortions Bill would require reporting complications, while the Infant Protection Bill would create safeguards for infants after an abortion attempt.
A 2023 review found Hospital Episode Statistics recorded 4.06 complications per 1,000 abortions versus 1.52 per 1,000 in Abortion Notification System, and 18.16 per 1,000 for incomplete abortions, 11.9 times the latter.

History

Historical Context

Harold Wilson’s Labour government passed the Abortion Act 1967, allowing abortions up to 28 weeks; the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology amendment reduced the limit to 24 weeks. Following the Lane Committee’s 1974 endorsement, the Department of Health recorded 140,000 abortions in 1975. Lord Moylan and Baroness O’Loan now seek bills to reinstate detailed complication reporting and infant protection.

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Story summary

Lord Moylan and Baroness O’Loan will introduce Bills in House of Lords, dates on June 9 and June 11.
The Complications from Abortions Bill would require reporting complications, while the Infant Protection Bill would create safeguards for infants after an abortion attempt.
A 2023 review found Hospital Episode Statistics recorded 4.06 complications per 1,000 abortions versus 1.52 per 1,000 in Abortion Notification System, and 18.16 per 1,000 for incomplete abortions, 11.9 times the latter.

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