§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on when a foetus becomes viable. [109690]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department of Health has not issued guidance on when a fetus becomes viable. However, the British Association of Perinatal Medicine has produced a framework for practice for the management of fetuses and newborn infants at the threshold of viability. Also, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has issued guidance on issues relating to late abortion, fetal viability and registration of births and deaths.
The World Health Organisation has defined the perinatal period as commencing at 22 completed weeks of gestation. Infants born between 22 and 28 weeks gestation have been described as having threshold viability.