The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020

Grounds for termination: cases with no gestational limit

Immediate necessity

5.  A registered medical professional may terminate a pregnancy where a registered medical professional is of the opinion, formed in good faith, that the termination is immediately necessary to save the life, or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health, of the pregnant woman.

Risk to life or grave permanent injury to physical or mental health of pregnant woman

6.  A registered medical professional may terminate a pregnancy where two registered medical professionals are of the opinion, formed in good faith, that—

(a) the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman; or

(b) the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman which is greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

Severe fetal impairment or fatal fetal abnormality

7.—(1) A registered medical professional may terminate a pregnancy where two registered medical professionals are of the opinion, formed in good faith, that there is a substantial risk that the condition of the fetus is such that—

(a) the death of the fetus is likely before, during or shortly after birth; or

(b) if the child were born, it would suffer from such physical or mental impairment as to be seriously disabled.

(2) In the case of a woman carrying more than one fetus, anything done to terminate the pregnancy as regards a particular fetus is authorised by paragraph (1) only if that paragraph applies in relation to that fetus.