HC Deb 02 December 1986 vol 106 cc605-9W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, concerning each death notified in connection

1968 to 1969 (CEMD) Legal abortion deaths
Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place of TOP1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
1 <9 25 3 D and C, Hysterectomy + 2N/S Yes
2 <9 31 2 D and C - N/S Yes
3 9–12 34 3 Hysterotomy - N/S Yes
4 9–12 38 5+ Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
5 9–12 39 5+ Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
6 13–16 18 1 Med. Induction—Saline - N/S Yes
7 13–16 35 5+ D and C - N/S Yes
8 13–16 36 3 Hysterotomy - N/S Yes
9 13–16 38 3 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
10 13–16 38 2 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
11 13–16 43 3 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
12 17–19 31 5+ Utus Paste - NIS Yes
13 17–19 38 3 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
14 20- 15 1 Hysterotomy - N/S Yes
15 Not stated 18 1 Dilatation & Aspiration - N/S Yes
1Termination of pregnancy.
2Not stated.

1970 to 1972 (CEMD) Legal abortion deaths
Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place of TOP1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
1 <9 30 5 D and C - 2N/S Yes
2 <9 39 2 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
3 9–12 17 1 Utus Paste—>Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
4 9–12 23 2 Suction Curettage—>Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
5 9–12 29 7 Suction Curettage + N/S Yes
6 9–12 32 4 D and C - N/S Yes
7 9–12 38 3 D and C - N/S 3Yes
8 9–12 38 N/S Laminaria Tents - N/S Yes
9 9–12 39 4 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
10 9–12 41 6 D and C + N/S Yes
11 9–12 42 6 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
12 9–12 42 3 D and C - N/S 3Yes
13 9–12 43 3 Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
14 9–12 44 4 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
15 9–12 44 6 Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
16 13–16 18 1 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
17 13–16 19 1 Utus Paste - N/S Yes

with legal abortion, performed in England and Wales in each of the years 1968 to 1985, inclusive, what was the woman's age and parity, gestation period, under nine, 9 to 12, 13 to 16, 17 to 19, and over 19 weeks, abortion premises (National Health Service or non-National Health Service) and procedure; whether sterilisation was performed concurrently; and whether the Registrar General attributed the death to the operation.

Mr. Newton

Information on deaths in connection with legal abortion from 1968 to 1981 is contained in the triennial reports of the confidential inquiry into maternal deaths in England and Wales. Deaths which were attributed by the central assessors to the operation are shown in the tables. Information for 1982 to 1985 is not yet available. Figures for the number of deaths attributed by the Registrar General to legal abortion and given in my reply to the hon. Member on 27 November at columns347–8 are based on the cause of death written by the certifying doctor on the death certificate; that information may not correspond to the more detailed information available to the inquiry which looks at all deaths occurring up to 12 months after a delivery or abortion.

Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place of TOP1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
18 13–16 21 3 D and C - N/S Yes
19 13–16 22 2 Suction Curettage - N/S Yes
20 13–16 22 3 Suction Curettage - N/S 3Yes
21 13–16 29 3 Laminaria Tents - N/S Yes
22 13–16 29 1 Hysterotomy - N/S Yes
23 13–16 33 3 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
24 13–16 34 4 Suction Curettage—>Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
25 13–16 36 4 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
26 13–16 37 6 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
27 13–16 37 3 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
28 13–16 40 5 Hysterotomy + N/S 3Yes
29 13–16 41 5 Hysterotomy—>Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
30 17–19 19 1 Med. Induction—Saline - N/S Yes
31 17–19 26 6 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
32 17–19 27 2 Med. Induction—Saline—>Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
33 20- 15 1 Med. Induction—Saline - N/S Yes
34 20- 19 4 Med. Induction—Saline - N/S Yes
35 Not stated 34 7 Hysterotomy + N/S 3Yes
36 Not stated 38 4 Hysterotomy + N/S Yes
37 Not stated 44 3 Suction Curettage (Attempted) - N/S Yes
1Termination of pregnancy.
2Not stated but 30 out of 37 known to be NHS.
3Anaesthetic death.

1973 to 1975 (CEMD) Legal abortion deaths
Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place of Top1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
1 <9 31 3 D and C 2N/S 3Yes
2 <9 37 2 D and C N/S Yes
3 9–12 20 3 Med. Induction Extra-amniotic P.G. + D and C 3 of these patients were sterilised N/S Yes
4 9–12 28 4 Hysterotomy N/S Yes
5 9–12 37 4 Hysterotomy N/S Yes
6 9–12 38 9 Vacuum Aspiration N/S Yes
7 9–12 39 8 Hysterotomy N/S Yes
8 13–16 26 2 Vacuum Aspiration - N/S Yes
9 13–16 31 6 D and C—>Hysterectomy + N/S Yes
10 17–19 18 2 Utus Paste - N/S Yes
11 17–19 25 1 Med. Induction Intra-amniotic Prostaglandin and Urea - N/S Yes
12 17–19 43 6 Med. Induction Extra-amniotic Prostaglandin - N/S Yes
13 20– 43 6 Dilatation and Rupture of Membranes Curettage - N/S Yes
14 Not stated 21 1 D and C - N/S Yes
1Termination of pregnancy.
2Not stated but nine out of 14 known to be NHS.
3Anaesthetic death.

1976 to 1978 (CEMD) Legal abortion deaths
Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place on Top1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
Nil <9
1 9–12 >40 1 D and C - NHS Yes
2 9–12 >40 4 D and C + NHS Yes
3 13–16 <20 1 Dilatation and Aspiration - NHS Yes
4 13–16 <20 1 Med. Induction with Prostaglandin - NHS Yes
5 13–16 >25 3 Med. Induction with Prostaglandin - NHS Yes
6 13–16 >40 5 D and C—>Hysterectomy + NHS Yes

Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place on Top1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
7 13–16 >40 8 Med. Induction with Prostaglandin - NHS Yes
8 17–19 >35 2 Med. Induction with Prostaglandin - NHS Yes
1Termination of pregnancy.

1979 to 1981 (CEMD) Legal abortion deaths
Number Gestation in weeks Age Parity Method Sterilisation Place of top1 Attributed to operation by central assessors
Nil <9
1 9–12 31 6 Suction Curettage + NHS Yes
2 9–12 36 2 Suction Curettage - NHS Yes
3 9–12 38 4 Suction Curettage - NHS Yes
4 13–16 16 1 Med. Induction with Prostaglandin - NHS Yes
5 17–19 21 2 Med. Induction with Prostaglandin - NHS Yes
Nil 20
1Termination of pregnancy.