The only person who need have any fear was one who ignored guidance of the existing standards of his profession, and to this extent the law was, at least in part, a deterrent against laxity of practice.
The Committee considers that, as it stands, the law has shown itself adaptable in practice to all reasonable changes in medical thought.
Further, the Committee was impressed by the possible dangers which might be associated with any alteration in the existing law.
While it is undoubtedly true that the majority of doctors are straightforward and honest in their interpretation of the indications for therapeutic abortion, it was made clear that even at the present time there are some who are inclined to terminate pregnancy for reasons which would not be accepted by most.
It would be quite impossible to lay down a hard-and-fast list of indications.
There are definite grounds for fearing that any alteration in the law would lead, in certain quarters, to a widening of the interpretations far beyond the intention of the alteration.
Under any alteration it would be exceedingly difficult to control the merging of the therapeutic into the social and economic reasons.
For these reasons, then, the Committee is not prepared to suggest any alteration in the law regarding therapeutic abortion; the Committee believes, however, that some benefit might accrue from the compulsory notification of all abortions to the Medical Officer of Health.
Abortion for Social and Economic Reasons.—Having received certain representations in favour of this practice, and having examined a large mass of evidence on this subject, the Committee is utterly opposed to any consideration of the legalization of abortion for social and economic reasons.
The Committee does not hesitate to state its first objection on moral grounds.