Lesson video

Hi everyone, and welcome to today's lesson on abortion.

My name is Ms. Wittams-Howarth, and I'm gonna be with you today in the lesson.

Some parts of the lesson might be upsetting or uncomfortable.

You are required to be accompanied by an adult.

If at any stage you feel uncomfortable or upset, close the screen and speak to the adult who's with you.

Let's get started.

The outcome of today's lesson is that I can describe the legalities and options of abortion in the UK.

I can explain the differences between medical and surgical abortion and explain the importance of seeking support.

Before we get into the lesson properly, we are gonna start with some ground rules, and they're gonna make sure that everyone stays safe and as comfortable as possible in the lesson.

So Laura, first of all says, "Listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, challenge the statement and not the person." Andeep says, "It's important to respect each other's privacy.

We can discuss examples, but don't use names or descriptions that identify anyone, including ourselves." A good top tip is to say, "My friend," and then we don't know if it is really your friend, it's someone you've seen in the media, it's someone that's in your family.

We've got no idea, so it protects everybody's identity.

Jacob says, "There's no fear of judgement.

And that means we can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without the fear of being judged." It also means that if you have a question about something and you're not quite sure whether you want to ask it, well, the no judgement rule means that you're not going to be judged for asking that question.

Probably there are loads of other people with exactly the same question in the room, and they'll be really glad that you've asked it too.

And lastly, Izzy says, "You can choose your level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or join in discussion.

We will never put anyone on the spot," and that includes the grownups who are with you.

You will see throughout the lesson that there are key words.

They're highlighted in bold, so they stand out, you'll be able to spot them more easily.

The first one is abortion, and that means the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or foetus.

Next, we have the Abortion Act of 1967, and this was an act of parliament in the UK that legalised abortions by registered practitioners, and they are regulated by law.

Then we have medical abortion, and that is a non-surgical procedure to terminate a pregnancy using pharmaceutical drugs.

And lastly, we have surgical abortion, and that means a surgical or medical procedure to remove the foetus or embryo from the uterus.

Okay, so in this lesson, we have three learning cycles.

First of all, we've got what is abortion and how do the methods differ? Then we've got what does the Abortion Act of 1967 cover? And then why is support important? Let's start with the first part of the lesson.

So if you remember from the keywords, abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or foetus.

It is a safe medical procedure and it is regulated in the UK.

There are two primary types of abortion.

There are medical abortions and surgical abortions.

Dr.

Elsie says, "Medical abortion involves taking pills to end a pregnancy, and it is often used in the very early stages." So that means that the pregnancy material is passed just a bit like a heavy period.

And then there's a surgical abortion, and this is a procedure performed by a trained medical professional.

You need to go into a clinic to have this done.

It's often used a little bit later in pregnancy or when medical abortion isn't suitable.

So what this means is that the medical professional will remove the pregnancy material from the uterus.

Let's do a check.

How well have you been listening? True or false, abortion is always a surgical procedure? Have a little think.

See if you can remember what we've talked about so far, and then I'll take your feedback in a minute.

So, if you ticked false, you'd be absolutely right.

Let's find out why.

There are two primary types of abortion.

There's medical abortions and surgical abortions.

So well done if you've got that right.

Great listening.

People might choose abortion for a variety of reasons, and they can include health risks, and that might be to the person who is pregnant or to the foetus.

It might be personal circumstances, and it might be situations like unintended pregnancies.

Everyone's circumstances are unique and the decision to have an abortion is a personal choice, and the only person whose choice it is is the person who is pregnant.

Dr.

Elsie says, "Abortion can be a difficult decision, but it is important to remember it is a safe option." And it's really usual for people to feel a whole mix of emotions, and that's okay.

True or false, the decision to have an abortion is always based on medical reasons? How well have you been listening? Have a little think, and we'll take your feedback in a moment.

So, if you said false, you'd be absolutely right.

Really well done.

Let's find out why.

There are many reasons why someone might choose an abortion.

Great work.

I've got a task for you now, and what I would like you to do is to list three reasons why someone might choose to have an abortion.

For each reason, I would like you to explain why it's important to respect their decision.

What I'd like you to do is pause the screen, have a go at that, and then we'll take feedback before moving on to part two of the task.

Off you go.

Okay, let's have a look at what you might have said.

I asked you to list three reasons why someone might choose to have an abortion.

And then for each reason, I'd like you to explain why it's important to respect their decision.

So here's some things that you might have included.

There are lots of other ideas as well.

So, for example, you might have talked about health risks.

The pregnancy might pose a risk to the person's physical or mental health.

So that means they might become unwell physically or mentally if they continued with the pregnancy.

And then personal circumstances.

So that could be anything like financial difficulties, maybe being in an abusive relationship, anything like that.

So that might make the decision to have an abortion clearer for them.

And then lastly, an unintended pregnancy.

The person may feel unprepared or might not want to have a child at that point in time or ever, so abortion again might be the right choice for them.

There's a part two of the task, and that is I'd like you to describe the differences between medical abortion and surgical abortion.

So again, to do that, pause the screen, have a go, and then we'll take feedback in a minute.

Off you go.

Let's have a look at what you might have said.

So, I asked you to describe the differences between a medical abortion and a surgical abortion.

Your answer might have included the following information.

A medical in abortion evolves taking pills to end a pregnancy.

It is often used in the early stages of pregnancy.

It's also something that can be done at home.

Whereas a surgical abortion is a procedure performed by a trained medical professional.

It's often used a bit later in pregnancy or when medical abortion isn't suitable, and it's also always done in a clinic.

So great work, really well done if you got that right.

Let's move on to the next part of the lesson.

The next part of the lesson is on what the Abortion Act of 1967 covers.

The Abortion Act of 1967 legalised abortion in England, Scotland, and Wales under certain conditions.

The law does not apply to Northern Ireland.

The law in England allows people to have a safe abortion if they choose as it is done by a trained doctor in an approved clinic or hospital.

"The law," Dr.

Elsie says, "allows abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, provided certain conditions are met." In exceptional circumstances, such as risk to the mother's life, abortion can be performed later." So, true or false, the Abortion Act of 1967 applies to all parts of the UK? How well have you been listening? Have a little think and then I'll take feedback in a minute.

So, if you said false, you'd be absolutely right.

Well done.

Let's find out why.

Do you remember? So, well done if you remembered that the law does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Great work, really good listening.

So, some of the conditions that must be met under the Act of 1967, two doctors must agree that the abortion meets the legal criteria, such as a risk to physical or mental health.

They will consider factors such as the impact of continuing the pregnancy on the person's wellbeing and any risks to their life.

In some cases, the health and development of the foetus may also be part of that consideration.

So there's lots for the doctors to think about.

Let's do another check.

How well have you been listening? Which of the following are conditions under the Abortion Act of 1967? So A, a risk to physical health, B, a risk to financial security, and C, a risk to mental health? Have a think, and then we'll take some feedback in a moment.

So, if you said a risk to physical health and a risk to mental health, you'd be absolutely right.

The risk to financial security, of course, could prove a risk to mental health because if people are really struggling with money worries, then that can also affect your mental health, so that's an important consideration.

I have another task for you now.

What I'd like you to do is to mind map what you have learned about the Abortion Act of 1967.

So I'd like you to write down anything that you can remember from this section of learning, and then we'll take some feedback in a few minutes time.

So what you are gonna need to do is pause the screen, have a go at that, see what you can remember, and then we will look at some answers in a little bit.

Off you go.

So, feedback then.

Well done for having a good go at that.

So your completed mind map might look a little bit like this.

So, the Act applies to England, Scotland, and Wales, not in Northern Ireland.

We know that two doctors must agree.

We know that abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, which is just over halfway through if and they are.

It's allowed up to 24 weeks if certain conditions are met.

So, for example, the impact of continuing the pregnancy on the person's wellbeing and any risks to their life.

And then kind of linked to that, in some cases, the health and development of the foetus might also be part of the consideration.

So really well done if you've got some or all of that, great work.

Let's move on to the last part of the lesson.

Why is support important? Abortion is a deeply personal decision, and access to emotional and medical support is crucial.

There are confidential services available to guide individuals.

And Dr.

Elsie says, "Support can come from healthcare professionals, counsellors, and trusted adults." And it's really important to seek out those sources of support, even if it seems really clear cut that an abortion might be in that person's best interests, they are bound to have mixed feelings about it, and so it's really, really important to explore those.

Let's do a check.

Complete this sentence.

Abortion is a deeply something decision and access to emotional and medical something is crucial.

Have a little think.

We'll see what the missing words are in a few moments time.

Off you go.

Okay, what did you get? If you got personal, so abortion is a deeply personal decision, and you got support, you'd be right.

Access to emotional and medical support is crucial.

Really well done if you've got those right.

Let's move on.

Seeking support helps ensure physical safety and emotional wellbeing.

It is important to recognise that abortion decisions are personal and should be free from judgement.

So it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks, it's about the person who is pregnant and what their choices are.

Dr.

Elsie says, "Talking to trusted medical professionals ensures that you are informed and supported." So if someone was to go for an abortion, they could ask all of the questions that they needed about what might happen and how they might feel.

And it's really important that people have the space to do that and to let that inform their decision-making process.

Let's do a check.

How well have you been listening? Which of the following would be able to best offer confidential abortion services in the UK? A, a doctor, B, a social media influencer, or C, a nurse? Have a quick think.

We'll take feedback in a minute.

So if you said a doctor and a nurse, you'd be right.

And now I've got a task for you.

Sarah has recently found out she's pregnant.

She's feeling unsure about what to do.

I'd like you to answer the following questions to help advise Sarah.

Question one, why is it important for Sarah to talk to healthcare professionals about her situation? Question two, how does confidentiality help Sarah feel safe and supported? So again, I'd like you to pause the recording, have a go answering both of those questions, try and get down as many ideas as you can, and then we'll take feedback in a few minutes time.

Off you go.

Let's look at some feedback then.

What might you have said in answer to this question? Remember, I asked you that Sarah has recently found out she's pregnant.

She's feeling unsure what to do.

Your answers to the questions might include, so let's look at question one first.

Why is it important for Sarah to talk to healthcare professionals about her situation? So you might have said healthcare professionals can provide accurate information, emotional support, and medical advice tailored to Sarah's situation.

So we've got no information here about the rest of Sarah's life, but getting support is really important for her.

Medical professionals can also help Sarah feel informed and empowered to make a decision that is best for her.

And then question two, and that was how does confidentiality help Sarah feel safe and supported? So confidentiality ensures that Sarah can discuss her situation openly without fear of judgement or of information being shared without her consent.

So what that means is if someone went to ask for support and discuss an abortion with a doctor or at a clinic, then that they are bound by confidentiality.

So they're not going to go off and talk about what's been said.

They won't go and tell, for example, Sarah's parents.

They won't go and tell her school.

So the information is confidential, it stays with them.

The only time they might need to break that, and they would do that by talking with Sarah, is if they felt that she was in danger.

Confidentiality helps build trust and helps Sarah feel more supported in making her decision.

So, it's really important that people can have safe and confidential discussions about their choices.

Let's have a look at a summary of today's learning then.

So first of all, we've got abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy and can be a medical abortion or a surgical abortion.

The Abortion Act of 1967 allows abortion under certain conditions before and after 24 weeks.

For example, the impact of continuing the pregnancy on the person's wellbeing and any risks to their life.

Under the law, two medical practitioners must approve an abortion unless in an emergency case, for example, they need to save the person's life.

Support from healthcare professionals is important in decision-making about abortion.

A trusted adult can help if you have concerns.

Let's look at some sources of support and information on this topic.

So you've got as sources of support, the NHS Live Well site and the NHS website.

There are lots of other sources of online information as well where you can find out more about abortion and other sexual health things.

So do take a look.

If you want more support and information, you can obviously also speak to health professionals and sexual health clinics too.

Thank you ever so much for learning with me today and well done for all of your hard work and your contributions.

I look forward to seeing you again soon for another lesson.

Take care of yourselves.

Bye-bye.