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Question

How can I find statistics about abortion?

Answer

Abortion had been historically legal under common law in England, Scotland and Wales. Under English common law, abortions prior to 'quickening' - when the fetus could first be felt to move by the pregnant woman - were thought to be morally and legally acceptable. Under Scottish common law, abortion was defined as a criminal offence unless performed for 'reputable medical reasons,' a definition sufficiently broad as to essentially preclude prosecution. Following protests from medical professionals, who worried about the dangers of the procedure and that it was regularly carried out by non-medical personnel, abortion was made a crime in 1803, subject to the death penalty or exile (i.e., transportation for life to Australia or another penal colony). It later was regulated under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1837, which eliminated the death penalty as a possible punishment, and ss58/9 Offences Against The Person Act 1861, which eliminated exile as a possible punishment and made abortion or attempts to "procure a miscarriage" illegal under all and any circumstances, providing:

— Source: Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)