It is not well known that abortion is not decriminalised in Scotland. With the frightening overturning on Roe V Wade and the uptick in clinic harassment in Scotland, it is time to ensure reproductive rights are fully enshrined in law. The Offences Against the Person act 1861 made abortion a criminal offence (punishable with life in prison in the U.K.) The 1967 Abortion Act did not actually decriminalise abortion (it means a patient cannot be prosecuted under certain conditions). The 1967 Act set out criteria to make abortion permissible. These criteria include two doctors’ signatures that certain conditions have been met eg that continuing the pregnancy would cause severe physical or mental harm to the pregnant person. 

The conditions of 1967 Abortion act ignore a great many reasons for seeking an abortion including rape, incest, poverty or simply not wanting to be pregnant. 

A U.K. doctor may refuse to sign off an abortion if the 1967 criteria is not met. This law also states that medical staff may refuse to take part in abortion care due to them having a conscientious objection. 

Decriminalisation is necessary to safeguard our reproductive rights and long term abortion access in Scotland.