Ethics briefing

The BMA has also expressed concerns that there is no provision for the creation of exclusion zones outside confidential abortion services - to prevent the unacceptable harassment and intimidation of patients and staff outside these services by those opposed to abortion.9 During both the House of Commons First Delegated Legislation Committee and House of Lords debates, these concerns were raised. The UK government has given some reassurances on when the new sanctions should apply, noting, among other things, that ‘This is about where someone is acting dishonestly or negligently—not where a medical professional forms an opinion as to risk in good faith and certifies that an abortion can take place but makes a factual error—and requires the consent of the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) before proceedings can be brought under the regulations.’10 Now that the legal framework is clearly established, it is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to agree to commission the service based on the new framework. The UK government also noted during both debates that the Assembly can amend and reform the regulations, ‘so long’ as any changes are compliant with the recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).11 Opt-out for organ donation On 20 May 2020, after a 12 month publicity campaign, deceased organ donation in England shifted from an ‘opt-in’ to an ‘opt-out’ (deemed consent) model. The Human Tissue Authority has amended its code of practice on deceased organ donation to reflect these changes.13 The publicity campaign informed people about the forthcoming change in the law and informed them how to opt out if they did not want to donate organs after their death.