§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, concerning each death notified in connection with legal abortion, performed in Scotland in each of the years 1968 to 1985, inclusive, what was the woman's age and parity, gestation period under nine, nine to 12, 13 to 16, 17 to 19, and over 19 weeks, abortion premises (National Health Service or non-National Health) and procedure; whether sterilisation was performed concurrently; and whether the Registrar General attributed the death to the operation.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information contained in the reports of the inquiry into maternal deaths in Scotland and the annual reports of the Registrar General for Scotland is set out below. Information for 1981 to 1985 is not yet available. Figures for the number of deaths available from the Registrar General 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.
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Period and number of deaths Age Parity Gestation group (weeks) Method Whether sterilised Deaths1 32 2 9–12 Vacuum aspiration Yes 43 9 13–16 Hysterotomy Yes 43 4 13–16 Curettage Yes Not Known Not Knowm 10–13 Vacuum aspiration No Not Known Not Knowm 10–13 Vacuum aspiration No 1976–1980 5 20 0 9–12 Vacuum aspiration No 2 22 0 13–16 Prostaglandin No 22 0 13–16 Vacuum aspiration No 26 3 Less than 9 General anaesthetic only No 34 3 13–16 Vacuum aspiration Not known 1Recorded by GRO(S) with underlying cause therapeutic abortion.