Second, currently, among the 152 most populous countries, 54 either banned abortion entirely or permitted it only to save the life of the pregnant woman. In contrast, 44 of those countries generally banned late-term abortions after a particular gestational period: 12 weeks ( Cuba, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Russia, South Africa); 13 weeks (Italy); 14 weeks (Austria, Belgium, Germany); 18 weeks (Sweden); 20 weeks (India); viability (US and Netherlands); and 24 weeks (UK and Singapore). Equally, countries recognize the need to have legal provisions to cater to conditions that may be threatening to the life of the woman or health of the foetus after 24 weeks of gestation.

For example, France allows for a “therapeutic” abortion” to be authorised by two physicians not only if continuation of pregnancy would seriously endanger the health of the woman, but also if it is to be expected that the future child will suffer from a particularly severe abnormality or disease which is considered incurable. There is no limit in terms of gestational age.

England has law on abortion for foetal abnormality as well as professional guidelines on the subject. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 requires two medical practitioners to certify that a pregnancy can be terminated at any gestation if...”there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped”. It is required for the practitioners to provide a full statement of the medical condition of the foetus and complete a still birth certificate. Interestingly, in May 2008, Parliament voted to maintain status quo on the question of whether to decrease the abortion limit to 12 weeks of pregnancy from the present 24 weeks or increase it back to the pre-1990 limit of 28 weeks.

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