Introduction

Chapter 1 provides an overview of the background context of this work. Particularly, it offers the reader reasons why a reflection on abortion and informed consent is needed now. Using England and Wales as a case study, it claims that the abortion debate has become polarised and political and that it has neglected the crucial component of the decision-making process. Whereas in other aspects of healthcare law the informed consent process has received increasing attention and been the subject of much litigation, it is argued here that abortion law and policies have fallen behind. Through an analysis of England and Wales, it is explored why that has come about and why change is important. This will form the foundation for legal and policy suggestions, which are claimed to be relevant for both the domestic context and at a broader international level.