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Researcher Name: Siân M. Beynon-Jones Affiliated Staff: Dr Sarah Parry and Dr Nina Hallowell (supervisors) Project Start Date: 01.09.2005 Project End Date: 30.09.2009 Contact Details: Siân M. Beynon-Jones Funder: ESRC Background: Current UK abortion law has been subjected to extensive feminist critique because of the relationships that it constructs between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and women with unwanted pregnancies. The law allows HCPs to opt out of abortion provision on the grounds of conscience, implying that it is not something which they have an automatic duty to provide to their patients. It also gives doctors the authority to decide whether an abortion can legally take place, thus suggesting that women’s reproductive decisions should be regulated by medical ‘experts’. However, little is known about how HCPs who are involved in twenty-first century UK abortion provision define their relationships with their patients in practice. Aims and Objectives: Siân's thesis responds to this gap in the literature and aims to explore the subjectivities which HCPs who are involved in abortion provision (as well as those who opt out of it) construct for themselves and their pregnant patients. Research Methods: Siân addresses this issue by analysing Scottish HCPs’ interview accounts of their involvement in (or conscientious objection to) abortion provision, using conceptual tools provided by Science and Technology Studies (STS) and feminist theory. Key Findings: A key conclusion of the thesis is that HCPs do concede some authority to women with unwanted pregnancies; this is revealed by their reluctance to suggest that they have the right to prevent individual women from accessing abortion. At the same time, Siân reveals that the legitimacy granted to pregnant women by HCPs is limited, with implications for patients' experiences of accessing/undergoing abortion. Wider implications for policy: Project Update: Publications: External Links: Further information:
Current UK abortion law has been subjected to extensive feminist critique because of the relationships that it constructs between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and women with unwanted pregnancies.
The law allows HCPs to opt out of abortion provision on the grounds of conscience, implying that it is not something which they have an automatic duty to provide to their patients.
It also gives doctors the authority to decide whether an abortion can legally take place, thus suggesting that women’s reproductive decisions should be regulated by medical ‘experts’. However, little is known about how HCPs who are involved in twenty-first century UK abortion provision define their relationships with their patients in practice.
Siân's thesis responds to this gap in the literature and aims to explore the subjectivities which HCPs who are involved in abortion provision (as well as those who opt out of it) construct for themselves and their pregnant patients.
Siân addresses this issue by analysing Scottish HCPs’ interview accounts of their involvement in (or conscientious objection to) abortion provision, using conceptual tools provided by Science and Technology Studies (STS) and feminist theory.
A key conclusion of the thesis is that HCPs do concede some authority to women with unwanted pregnancies; this is revealed by their reluctance to suggest that they have the right to prevent individual women from accessing abortion. At the same time, Siân reveals that the legitimacy granted to pregnant women by HCPs is limited, with implications for patients' experiences of accessing/undergoing abortion.
