Abortion Myth #4
Abortion is only allowed in the beginning of pregnancy.
Abortion Facts
An Angus Reid public opinion survey released January 18, 2010 reveals that 43% of Canadians wrongly assume that an abortion can only be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy. 80% of Canadians are unaware of the current legal status of abortion. The fact is that abortion is legal in Canada throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
Before 1969, the Criminal Code of Canada prohibited abortion unless the mother’s life was at risk. An amendment was added to the abortion section (251) in 1969 to allow abortions if the mother’s life or health was threatened. Abortions had to be approved by a therapeutic abortion committee. The word health was broadly interpreted to include economic, social, psychological, or physical health, leading to abortion on demand. In 1988, the law was completely struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, leaving no law at all. Since that time, the number of abortions has escalated to over 100,000 per year.
Some of the babies who are aborted could survive on their own, outside of the womb. According to research at London, Ontario hospitals, 42% of babies born at 23 weeks (5 months, 3 weeks) gestation now survive, and 72% of the babies born at 24 weeks (6 months) gestation survive. Some babies are known to survive at 20-22 weeks as well.(1) According to Statistics Canada Therapeutic Abortion Survey 2006, over 12% of abortions are performed after 12 weeks gestation.
(1) http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/section/5/26/ (Rt to Life GC, Nov/Dec05]