HC Deb 23 March 1970 vol 798 c272W
100. Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of deaths in England and Wales due to abortion from all causes for 1969, according to the International Classification of Disease; and how many of these were due to legal abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1969.

Mr. Crossman

Seventeen deaths were provisionally reported under the Act, of which four were classified as directly due to abortion (ICD 640 and 641). A further 25 deaths were classified as directly due to abortions other than under the Act. A provisional total of 29 deaths were thus classified under ICD categories as directly due to abortion.

Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mothers died as a result of abortion operations in the first year of the Abortion Act.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Eight. The deaths were assigned to the following underlying causes:

  • Abortion (6).
  • Carcinoma of rectum (1).
  • Venous thrombosis (1).