Last week, the BBC aired an episode of their long-standing medical drama Call the Midwife. In this particular episode, a character died after complications following an illegal 'backstreet' abortion.
As always, at the end of the programme any viewer affected by the issues raised was encouraged to visit the BBC Action Line. This is a website that provides advice, information and support on sensitive topics features in the corporation’s programmes.
Yet women who visited the website noticed that there were no sources offering advice on abortion. The site did, however, supply information on subjects including miscarriage, substance abuse and gambling.
When questioned about the omission by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), BBC Action Line confirmed that they had chosen not to include resources on abortion as they considered it to be a 'contentious' issue, and they did not want to be seen as 'supporting one side'.
They said: 'It isn’t possible for the BBC Action Line to offer support for abortion and similarly contentious issues without referring people either to campaigning organisations which take a particular stance on an issue or to organisations which provide it.
'Doing so could imply the BBC supported one side or another in any contentious issue which it does not do in its coverage. However, as the current storyline in Call the Midwife also raises issues of miscarriage, pregnancy related depression and bereavement, it was felt that support should be offered for viewers who might be affected.'
Now a group of women’s healthcare organisations, including BPAS and Marie Stopes, and the Royal College of Midwives have written to the BBC calling on them to reverse their stance. In other words, to provide accurate information about abortion.
They expressed their disappointment, and reiterated that abortion should not be seen as a 'contentious issue' in 2019.
'Abortion has been legal, in certain circumstances, in Great Britain for over 50 years, and 98% of terminations are funded by the NHS. Abortion is the most common gynaecological procedure in the UK, and one in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime.
'Polling demonstrates that the vast majority of the public support a woman’s right to choose, including those with a religious belief. Abortion is not a 'contentious issue'– it is a routine part of NHS-funded healthcare, provided by doctors, nurses, and midwives every day in hospitals and clinics across the country.'
The organisations were keen to point out that their criticism lies 'solely' with the BBC Action Line website, and not the programme itself. Call the Midwife, they wrote, has repeatedly handled this issue 'extremely sensitively and courageously' and it is a 'testament to the power of the programme itself that so many women sought more information from the BBC Action Line website after it was broadcast'.
To read the letter in full click here.
The Times has contacted the BBC for comment, we will update this story with any further developments.
