In the Catholic parishes of Great Britain, signatures were collected last weekend to protest against the initiative of the “Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology”, which recently asked doctors and nurses to consider the option to let premature babies affected by major malformations die. A sort of “active euthanasia”, given the number of disabled children who survive today thanks to the progress made by the medical science, to “relieve parents of the emotional and financial burden of very sick babies”. The collection of signatures was promoted by the “Society for the protection of unborn children”, one of the most important associations of the Pro-life movement. In the meantime, next June a conservative MP, Ann Winterton, will submit a new law to Parliament, asking that women wanting to have an abortion undergo a number of counselling sessions, meetings with a therapist and one week to reflect upon their decision. According to the MP, who is a member of the pro-life movement, “it is important that women be aware of the devastating effects that an abortion can have on their physical and mental health and of the available options”. In addition, the bill of law asks that the doctors who are willing to practise the so-called “social abortion” specify whether it is granted because it is risky for the physical health of the woman or for psychological reasons. Under the applicable UK law, an abortion can be practised if “the pregnancy is risky for the physical or mental health of the woman”. This was the reason behind 95% of the 206,000 abortions practised in the United Kingdom in 2005. Winterton’s motion is supported by the “Alive and kicking campaign”, a coalition of pro-life associations.
