General Article This is why it matters the BBC didn’t include abortion information after its Call the Midwife episod

Topic Selected: Abortion Book Volume: 367
This article is 5 years old. Click here to view the latest articles for this topic.

The BBC views abortion as too ‘contentious’ to mention – our society clearly thinks otherwise.

By Katherine O’Brien, Head of Media and Policy Research at Bpas

Last week, 8.9 million of us watched the harrowing story of a young mother who lost her life due to complications from a backstreet abortion in Sunday’s episode of Call the Midwife. It was heartbreaking viewing, and was also a poignant reminder of just how grateful we all should be to the campaigners in the 1960s who fought for the rights that are easily taken for granted today.

“There were links for those affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, addiction and gender dysphoria (among other issues.) But the ‘information and support’ for those affected by abortion did not exist.”

After the programme, the BBC advertised the availability of their Action Line website for viewers seeking ‘information and support for issues covered in the programme. Yet for those seeking advice on Call the Midwife’s central storyline, there was none. T...

Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?

Sign up now for an immediate no obligation FREE TRIAL and view the entire collection