The Abortion Act 1967
A Biography of a UK Law

Biography of the Abortion Act, exploring how it was shaped by and shaped a changing UK.

Sally Sheldon (Author), Gayle Davis (Author), Jane O'Neill (Author), Clare Parker (Author)

9781108496384, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 November 2022

358 pages
25.1 x 17.7 x 2.5 cm, 0.8 kg

'Qualifying in medicine in 1969 in Aberdeen, and inspired by Dugald Baird's Fifth Freedom, I grew up with the implications of the 1967 Abortion Act. And so, it was fascinating to read and understand the legal and social history, the twists and turns, of where we are now. Thoroughly researched and well presented, this book is a must for all who care about Women's Health.' Allan Templeton, CBE FMedSci, Former President of the RCOG, and Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen

The Abortion Act 1967 may be the most contested law in UK history, sitting on a fault line between the shifting tectonic plates of a rapidly transforming society. While it has survived repeated calls for its reform, with its text barely altered for over five decades, women's experiences of accessing abortion services under it have evolved considerably. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews, this book explores how the Abortion Act was given meaning by a diverse cast of actors including women seeking access to services, doctors and service providers, campaigners, judges, lawyers, and policy makers. By adopting an innovative biographical approach to the law, the book shows that the Abortion Act is a 'living law'. Using this historically grounded socio-legal approach, this enlightening book demonstrates how the Abortion Act both shaped and was shaped by a constantly changing society.

1. Introduction
2. The Early Years
3. The Parliamentary Battle for Restrictive Reform
4. The Battle for Normalisation
5. The Battle for Legal Meaning
6. The Battle for Northern Ireland
7. The Parliamentary Battle for Modernising Reform
8. A Biography of the 'Great Untouchable'
Appendices
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Forensic medicine [MMQ], Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC], Medical & healthcare law [LNTM], Legal ethics & professional conduct [LATC], Social research & statistics [JHBC], Ethical issues: abortion & birth control [JFMA]