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<p>The decision to terminate a pregnancy must rest on the judgement of two doctors,
who have to be of one and the same opinion that an abortion meets one of the grounds
set out in the Abortion Act 1967, and the woman herself, who must be given enough
information and time to help her understand the process so that she can make an informed
decision about the options available. When an abnormality is detected or suspected,
women and their partners should receive appropriate information and support from a
properly trained multidisciplinary team – who must adopt a supportive and non-judgemental
approach regardless of whether the decision is to terminate or continue the pregnancy.</p><p>Diagnosis
or prognosis does not always tell the whole picture of each individual case. In 1990,
when the grounds for abortion where amended, Parliament agreed that doctors were best
placed to make these decisions with the woman and her family. The Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has published guidance on ‘Termination of Pregnancy
for Fetal Abnormality in England, Scotland and Wales’ to assist doctors and other
health professionals to support women and their families when a fetal abnormality
is diagnosed and to help women to decide, within the bounds of the law, whether or
not to have an abortion.</p>
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