HC Deb 14 December 1971 vol 828 cc48-9W
Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions without sterilisation were performed in England and Wales by vacuum aspiration or by dilatation and curettage up to 12 weeks' gestation, for each of the years 1968, 1969 and 1970, and of this number how many deaths were attributed to the operation and how many to other causes, and how many were associated' with haemorrhage, sepsis and other complications.

Mr. Alison

The available information is as follows:

and two, three, four, five, six and seven or more days later in each of the years 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Mr. Alison

The figures are as follows:

Mr. Knight

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women died from legal abortion operations directly following illegal and spontaneous abortions, and from other causes following legal abortions, respectively, with details of these causes in 1970.

Mr. Alison

It is not known how many women died from legal abortion operations directly following illegal or spontaneous abortions. During 1970 in England and Wales there were three deaths from other causes following legal abortions. The causes of death were1. Endotoxic shock, due to Peritonitis, due to Perforated gangrenous caecum. 2. Acute peritonitis, due to Infected vaginal vault incision, due to Hysterectomy for menorrhagia. 3. Acute heart failure, due to Thrombosis of left pulmonary artery, due to Patent foramen ovale.