IoM Abortion Reform Bill approved by Legislative Council
The Isle of Man's Legislative Council has approved the proposed Abortion Reform Bill.
Today eight members who voted to pass the Bill won over the only opponent, Bishop of Sodor and Mann Peter Eagles.
The Bishop had asked LegCo to revise the document and asked for 71 amendments to be considered, with only one other member supporting re-wording a clause that allows for conscientious objection among health staff.
All of his amendments were rejected, with the Bishop later commenting that the Bill would enable 'moral slippage’.
The Bill will now go to the House of Keys in the autumn, for consideration of amendments discussed by LegCo.
Dr Alex Allinson MHK drafted the Bill, updating the current Termination of Pregnancy Act 1995.
At the moment terminating a pregnancy on the island is currently only allowed up to 24 weeks in a limited number of circumstances: only if it will create grave or permanent injury to the woman, or the child will die during birth, will die shortly afterwards or will be seriously handicapped..