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GENERAL PRACTITIONERS’ VIEWS ON PREGNANCY TERMINATION
Author(s) -
Sussman William,
Adams Anthony I.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb87375.x
Subject(s) - abortion , feeling , pregnancy , abortion law , first trimester , medicine , family medicine , psychology , family planning , law , social psychology , political science , population , research methodology , environmental health , genetics , biology , fetus
A random sample of 92 general practitioners in Sydney were interviewed to assess their attitudes regarding termination of pregnancy in the first trimester. In comparison with an earlier study, doctors appear to hold more liberal views on all aspects of abortion. Seventy‐six per cent favour reform of existing laws in New South Wales. Twenty‐eight per cent now favour permitting abortion on the request of the woman as the only criterion. The majority of doctors favour termination of pregnancy for medical, psychiatric and psychological reasons. On the average, each general practitioner had been approached in the last 12 months by at least 10 pregnant women seeking advice or assistance on abortion. In the light of the size of the problem and the extent of the feeling among general practitioners of the need for abortion law reform, it is suggested that the medical profession as a whole take the lead in providing a forum for discussion of the question In Its entirety.