My deed is that as part of my doctorate in clinical psychology, I have reviewed literature into women’s experiences of having ’late’ abortions (those conducted after 21 weeks, 6 days gestation). Alongside this, I have interviewed 10 specialist obstetricians who conduct late abortions to explore this still too-oft stigmatised and unspoken area of healthcare provision. I aim to publish this to contribute to an evidence-base into the experiences of recipients and providers of late abortions and to keep this issue on the political agenda from a pro-choice perspective. I believe that it is crucial to generate research into the area of abortion considering there are still too often ’pro-life’/anti-abortion proposals launched (which I would argue attacks on women’s rights) to reduce the gestation limit by which an abortion can be conducted.
I dedicate this work to the memory of Savita Halappanavar. Savita died in October 2012 in Ireland owing to physical complications after she was denied an abortion. In Ireland abortions are still illegal.
For Savita – ‘Never Again’
”The body is not a thing, it is a situation: it is our grasp on the world and a sketch of our projects” – Simone de Beauvoir
– Vanessa Fay (the photo is of me in the library)
