Marie Stopes "pressures young mothers into having abortions"

Shannon Skinner with baby Amelia, who survived the first stage of a medical abortion: "I call her our miracle baby because we just don’t know how she survived. She must have really wanted to be here." Photo: John Lawrence.

The Daily Mail has published an article in which several mothers recount their experiences of being pressured into having an abortion at a Marie Stopes clinic.

Two of the mothers told the Daily Mail that their babies survived taking the first of the two pills used in a medical abortion. One, Sophie, told the reporter of the response when she told clinic staff that she didn't want to continue with the abortion.

"I explained that I felt trapped and pressured," she says. "I told the nurse I didn't want to take the second tablet. But she told me I was being a 'silly girl'; that as I had already taken one, my baby would be deformed.

Sophie managed to leave the clinic, and sought help from a pro-life group, who took her to a doctor who prescribed progesterone to counteract the effect of the abortion pill. They also helped her financially, and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

The report comes as Marie Stopes begins to resume normal operations, after the Care Quality Commission (CQC), in August took the unusual step of halting the 250 abortions carried out each week nationwide at the organisation's clinics as a result of "specific immediate concerns" regarding consent, safeguarding, training and the competence of staff.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3853328/As-concerns-raised-Marie-Stopes-clinics-young-mothers-pressured-having-abortions.html#ixzz4NchBDGaY

Donald Trump challenges Hilary Clinton on late term abortion in presidential debate

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has received widespread media coverage over his comments on late-term abortion.

During the third presidential debate last night, Mr Trump challenged Democrat candidate on her support for abortion, saying "If you go with what Hillary is saying, you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby."

"You can say that that is OK and Hillary can say that that is OK, but it's not OK with me."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/19/abortion-trump-clinton-debate

Northern Ireland MP submits bill to introduce abortion for "fatal foetal abnormality"

Former Alliance party leader David Ford has submitted a private member’s bill to Stormont in a bid to legalise abortion in the case of serious disability.

Mr Ford tabled his Bill with the Assembly Speaker's Office on Wednesday.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/david-ford-submits-private-members-bill-to-reform-northern-ireland-abortion-law-in-case-of-fatal-foetal-abnormalities-35144364.html

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