Ethics briefings

1 Key changes from the previous 2004 guidelines include, among other things, that services should identify vulnerable women, for example, women being subjected to domestic abuse, and refer them on to appropriate support services; that women should be offered screening for sexually transmitted infections and there should be a system for partner notification and referral to a sexual health service; and that all appropriate methods of contraception should be discussed with women at the initial assessment and a plan agreed for contraception after the abortion. The British Medical Association (BMA) has produced a new report documenting the changes that have taken place over the past 4 years and renewing its calls for further efforts to increase the number of donors-including consideration of an opt-out system with safeguards.\n Caesarean section: clinical guidelines In November 2011, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published updated clinical guidelines on caesarean section (CS).