Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018

Early pregnancy

12. (1) A termination of pregnancy may be carried out in accordance with this section by a medical practitioner where, having examined the pregnant woman, he or she is of the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy.

(2) A termination of pregnancy shall not be carried out under this section unless the medical practitioner referred to in subsection (1) has certified his or her opinion as to the matter referred to in that subsection.

(3) The termination of pregnancy shall not be carried out by a medical practitioner unless a period of not less than 3 days has elapsed from—

(a) the date of certification under subsection (2) by that medical practitioner, or

(b) where a certification was previously made in respect of the pregnancy by another medical practitioner for the purposes of subsection (2), the date of that previous certification.

(4) A termination of pregnancy to which the certification referred to in subsection (2) relates shall be carried out as soon as may be after the period referred to in subsection (3)(a) or (b), as the case may be, has elapsed but before the pregnancy has exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy.

(5) For the purposes of this section, “12 weeks of pregnancy” shall be construed in accordance with the medical principle that pregnancy is generally dated from the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period.