A century of remodelling: the law of abortion in review

Despite its extensive history and pervasive nature, the practice of abortion remains controversial. While most Western societies regard the taking of an innocent life as "wrong", there is great divergence of opinion as to what constitutes a life. Matters become complicated when one notes that a particular definition of "life" may depend on whether the inquiry is undertaken for church, state, legal or medical discussion. Such concern falls beyond the perimeter of this article. The article reviews the history of, and contemporary issues association with, the regulation of abortion in Australia, and makes brief comparison between common law jurisdictions, particularly Canada and the United States. It also focuses on recent debate about late-term abortions in the United States and the constraints that provincial governments may place on access to abortion in Canada. Finally, it considers some of the "newer" influences being brought to bear on the issue of abortion, such as human rights and public health, and whether they may be of relevance to Australia as it struggles to assume a contemporary position on abortion