Abortion

(asked on 25th June 2014) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) evaluated since May 2010 on the number of women who died following complications from a legal abortion; when his Department last undertook an evidence review of the number of women who died following complications from a legal abortion that drew on (i) UK and (ii) international research; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
 Portrait
Jane Ellison
This question was answered on 2nd July 2014

The most comprehensive information about a death following an abortion is published in the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) (previously known as the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health).

Maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy; United Kingdom 1985-2008

Triennium *

Number of deaths from termination of pregnancy

2006-08

0**

2003-05

1

2000-02

5

1997-99

2

1994-96

1

1991-93

5

1988-90

3

1985-87

1

* Data is collected for each three year period

**The report also reviews the deaths of two women who died from sepsis following termination of pregnancy and one death associated with cocaine misuse interacting with anaesthesia.

Cause of death recorded on death certificates for women who died following an abortion is not reviewed by the Department. The Maternal, Newborn and Infant Clinical Outcome Review Programme which now oversees CEMD is funded by the Department and other organisations. CEMD take account of all relevant United Kingdom and international research in their work.Data for 2009-12 is due to be published in December this year and annual updates will be produced in the future.

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