As the law stands, "abortion is legal in the UK up to the 24th week of
pregnancy", said a spokeswoman for the General Medical Council, the
organisation which supervises medical ethics in Britain.
"However, if there is a substantial risk to the woman's life or if there are
foetal abnormalities, there is no time limit," she said. "To comply with the
1967 Abortion Act, two doctors must give their consent, stating that to
continue with the pregnancy would present a risk to the physical or mental
health of the woman or her existing children. However, the act does not extend
to Northern Ireland, where abortion is still illegal."
The spokeswoman went on: "A scan will show up the sex of the foetus only after
six months or so, by which time it will be too late to have abortion on
demand."
For some months now, stories have been appearing in British newspapers of
Indian women making their way to India for abortions, for which they are more
than happy to pay a premium. For the doctors in India who perform these
operations, it is a nice little earner on the side.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five's Live Breakfast, Bedi said: "I know for sure, I
have often been approached by people who are willing to send someone to my
practice. There are transfers from GPs in England to the gynaecologists in
Delhi - that is a fact. It is an organised industry, an organised mafia among
doctors."
Asked if it was a common practice, he said: "Yes, actually, and, if anything,
it is on the rise because basic economics dictate and there's a lot of money
for the doctors to be made. I am not sure how many people will say it on the
television or radio but we all know it happens all the time. Most of the
gynaecologists in south Delhi, at least, are directly involved in the process."
Bedi revealed that the average cost for woman in India to have an abortion was
around £100, whereas British Asian women could pay several thousand pounds.
"I do not know of any doctor who does not have half a dozen colleagues or
medical school friends in England already practising - sometimes in areas where
there is a large Indian population," he said. "In this business there is a core
of silence like every other organised white collar crime."
Supporting evidence was given by Dr Himansu Basu, a consultant gynaecologist
who runs a private practice in Gravesend, Kent, who said: "Abortion based on
the sex of the child is banned in the UK, it is also illegal in India. But
there are areas of private practice where people can go."
He added it was difficult to estimate the numbers of female abortions that take
place each year because data was never published. But, anecdotally, he
estimated that "it has been going on for years".
He went on: "Overall, the global impact must be absolutely horrendous, it is a
biological disturbance."
Julia Millington, from the Pro-Life Alliance, said she was horrified by the
system: "It is illegal in the UK and illegal in India to abort a baby simply
because it is the wrong sex. Anyone who actively participates in such a
referral is culpable themselves of an illegal act and must be prosecuted."
"They are contributing not only to the death of innocent unborn babies, but
also actively furthering appalling discrimination against women."
A spokesman for the British Medical Association commented: "I am not sure of
the legality but we would certainly strongly oppose this practice."
