Printed from: https://www.cmf.org.uk/news/?id=149
In December 2003 Anglican curate Joanna Jepson was granted permission to launch a judicial review concerning the late abortion of a fetus diagnosed with cleft lip and palate. In October 2002 West Mercia police had declined to prosecute the doctors involved, who had been identified from the statistical data published.
A lengthy legal battle has followed since then with the Department of Health refusing to publish statistics of late abortions performed for disability lest doctors (and individual patients) be identified. They claimed the information was 'sensitive, personal and private'. However, on 15 October the Information Commissioner ordered the government to publish data about the number of late abortions carried out because of disability. Ministers have to release the data for England and Wales within the next month.
The Pro Life Alliance has pursued the challenge: 'This is a straightforward judgement which maintains the principles that statistics do not constitute personal data, that abortion is a serious procedure and that transparency is necessary to satisfy legitimate public interest in this controversial medical practice'.
The Department of Health will consider the implications of the judgment and whether to lodge an appeal with the High Court. See details in The Daily Telegraph or on the BBC health pages
Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668
Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225
Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.
CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.
