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British Abortion Law: Speaking from the Past to Govern the Future

Sheldon, Sally (2016) British Abortion Law: Speaking from the Past to Govern the Future. The Modern Law Review, 79 (2). pp. 283-316. ISSN 1468-2230. E-ISSN 1468-2230. (doi:10.1111/1468-2230.12180) (KAR id:52566)

Abstract

This paper analyses the poor alignment of the aging statutory framework and modern understandings of medical best practice in the context of abortion services. With a particular focus on medical abortion, it assesses the significant challenges that the gulf between the two poses for clinicians, service providers, regulators and the courts. Law is said to be at its most effective where there is a shared regulatory community that accepts and endorses the values that underpin it. It is suggested that the example of abortion law provides a marked example of what happens when legal norms once justified by broadly shared moral understandings, concerns for patient safety and requirements of best practice are now either unsupported by or, indeed, sit in opposition to such concerns.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/1468-2230.12180
Uncontrolled keywords: abortion law
Subjects: K Law
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Depositing User: Sarah Saines
Date Deposited: 01 Dec 2015 10:19 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 00:32 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/52566 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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