British Charity Helping Women Seek Illegal Late-Term Abortions in Spain

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service -- a charity that receives funding from the UK's National Health Service and provides about 25% of all abortions in Britain each year -- might face an investigation for helping women obtain "illegal" late-term abortions by referring them to a clinic in Spain, The Times reports.

UK Health Secretary John Reid has asked to review recordings compiled by an undercover newspaper investigation and promised to pursue the matter after two antiabortion groups called for a full inquiry, according to the Times (Bale, Times, 10/11).

BPAS Chief Executive Ann Furedi said that the clinic was not breaking the law by referring pregnant women who are past the 24-week British abortion limit to the Barcelona, Spain, clinic and was "simply providing women with international contacts to clinics" for abortion services. Furedi called it "morally reprehensible" not to help clients obtain the services they need, the Birmingham Post reports (Lyons, Birmingham Post, 10/11).

An unnamed spokesperson for the British Department of Health, speaking before the recorded information was turned over to the health secretary, said, "If there is evidence that the will of Parliament is being thwarted, and in addition the law of a fellow European country is being broken, by an organization in receipt of public money, this would be a very serious matter indeed." Reid is expected to seek legal advice Monday on whether the charity should face prosecution, Manchester's Guardian reports (Hall, Guardian, 10/11).