Written Question · S2W-19245 · Session 2
Whether it has examined the report of the study carried out by the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health in Finla…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the report of the study carried out by the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health in Finland which states that the mortality rate for women asociated with abortions is three times the rate for women associated with childbirth and what comparative figures it has for Scotland.
The answer
The Executive is aware of the existence of this study. All UK health departments are advised on issues relating to abortion by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which will take all good quality published studies into account in the next review of the college’s evidence-based good practice clinical guideline on the care of women seeking induced abortion.
Abortion, both medical and surgical, is a very safe procedure and deaths following abortion are extremely rare. In the UK it is a requirement that all maternal deaths should be subject to confidential enquiry and all health professionals have a duty to provide the information required. Reports on such enquiries are published on a UK basis.
The triennial report on Confidential Enquires into Maternal Deaths in the UK for the period 2000 to 2002, the last figures available, showed that three maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy were reported out of approximately 590,000 abortions performed. This works out at a rate of approximately five deaths per million abortions, compared with 53 deaths per million births.
Abortion, both medical and surgical, is a very safe procedure and deaths following abortion are extremely rare. In the UK it is a requirement that all maternal deaths should be subject to confidential enquiry and all health professionals have a duty to provide the information required. Reports on such enquiries are published on a UK basis.
The triennial report on Confidential Enquires into Maternal Deaths in the UK for the period 2000 to 2002, the last figures available, showed that three maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy were reported out of approximately 590,000 abortions performed. This works out at a rate of approximately five deaths per million abortions, compared with 53 deaths per million births.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-19245 by reference.