Friday, October 12, 2012

Belfast Abortion Clinic Opening in Ireland

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  Abortion is restricted in Ireland and even more so in Northern Ireland where only a woman whose pregnancy would have a serious permanent or long-term effect on the woman’s physical or mental health is permitted to have an abortion. Despite this, a British nonprofit organization claims they plan to open an abortion clinic next week in Belfast, the first ever on the island of Ireland. This news has made anti-abortion campaigners furious, and they have promised to pressure local politicians to refuse to grant an operating license.
     The fact that many abortions are not permitted does not mean they do not occur; it just means women have to travel a little further for them. Most travel to the U.K. and pay for the service. Many women would most likely opt for going to the new clinic, which would be less expensive than traveling to England, Scotland or Wales. At this new clinic in Belfast, which hasn’t yet been granted an operating license by the local Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, would only allow abortions up to 9 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks in the rest of Britain.
     I believe this clinic should be given the right to open. A woman would be able to more easily get an abortion (an act I am not personally interested in participating in, but one which I feel the government does not have the right to restrict).  The fact that the clinic would only allow abortions up to 9 weeks is a rather conservative take on abortion as well. I was unaware that abortion was so restricted in Ireland, but I believe it is time for that to change and for that choice to become more accessible to all through the Belfast clinic.

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