The case of Nicola Packer tells us this: Britain is shamed by its abortion laws – and must change them | Jonathan Lord

The court of appeal said even those found guilty should be treated with compassion, not punished. Her ordeal proves no one was listeningJonathan Lord is co-chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists abortion taskforceAs Nicola Packer lay down in shock having just delivered a foetus at home, she had no idea that her life was about to be torn apart. She had suffered a rare complication in her abortion treatment, but what followed would be far more traumatic and unexpected. Every agency she needed turned against her, treating her not as a victim but as a criminal. Compassion was replaced by cruelty.NHS staff come to work because they want to care, and Packer did find most staff at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London “amazing”. What she didn’t know is that after the matter was passed up the chain of seniority, the police were alerted.Jonathan Lord is an NHS consultant gynaecologist and co-chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists abortion taskforceDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

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