Lord Steel, the architect of the Abortion Act in 1967, has said gender abortion is “repugnant”.
Last week Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, faced widespread criticism after suggesting abortions on gender grounds can be legal.
He made the comments in his statement explaining why two doctors who approved abortions because of the sex of the babies will not be charged.
Important
Lord Steel said: “Gender selection in abortion is wholly repugnant and therefore we must hope that the General Medical Council will issue guidance on this important issue as soon as possible.”
Mr Starmer said the law does not “expressly prohibit gender-specific abortions” but stops them being carried out without two doctors “having formed a view, in good faith, that the health risks (mental or physical) of continuance outweigh those of termination”.
He said there was “just sufficient evidence” to prosecute but that it was not in the public interest.
Appropriate
Mr Starmer said it is “more appropriate” for the doctors to be investigated by their professional body.
The health department has asked Dominic Grieve, the Attorney General, for clarification on the issue, and says the chief medical officer will provide “further clear advice and guidance to doctors” once it has received a response.
An investigation by The Daily Telegraph last year found two doctors offering to arrange abortions after being told that the women did not want the baby because of its sex.
Concerns
Lord Steel, known as the ‘father of abortion’, raised concerns that repeat abortions are being used as a form of contraception earlier this year.
He said this was “never the purpose of the 1967 reform”.