A pro-life campaigner claims the abortion industry will be ’rubbing its hands in glee’ at the prospect of reform in the Isle of Man.

Life Isle of Man is urging MHKs to reject the Abortion Reform Bill, which it brands ’extreme and dangerous’.

But Dr Allinson, who drafted the Abortion Reform Bill, says that it could actually lead to fewer abortions and pointed out any procedures would be required to be through the NHS. He also accused the group of making ’false claims’ about safety.

Life spokesman Liz Parsons said: ’If this bill gets through it would mean the Isle of Man having some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world.

’With abortions on demand for any reason whatsoever up to 14 weeks and abortions for social reasons up to 24 weeks, we would inevitably see a dramatic increase in the number of abortions on the island.

’It is a summer’s dream for the abortion industry which must be rubbing its hands in glee at the prospect of profiting from the plight of women in our island.’

She accused Dr Allinson of not taking on board the group’s concerns over the ’omission of psychiatric evaluation and care for women in crisis pregnancy requesting an abortion on mental health grounds’.

She added: ’We have also expressed concern about the bill opening the door to women taking the abortion pill at home and the danger this poses to women’s physical and mental health.

’People with disabilities will also be deeply disappointed at the proposed legalisation of abortion right up to birth for disabled babies.’

The bill ’opens the floodgates to the exploitation of, and potential harm to women by a money hungry abortion industry which has brought the rate of abortion in England and Wales to one every three minutes’.

Dr Allinson said he was not surprised by Life IoM’s objections.

’I think they have forgotten that the 1967 Act was brought in to the UK because previously hundreds of women had been dying due to backstreet abortions,’ he said.

The suicide rate in the Isle of Man, prior to the introduction of the previous 1995 act, was estimated to be eight times higher than the UK average, he added.

’The sad thing is that, since 1967, politicians on the island have turned a blind eye to the women who have to travel to Liverpool for private abortions, often with no counselling or support from our NHS.’

His said bill set out to provide adequate counselling and support.

Dr Allinson rejected Life’s description of it as ’extreme and dangerous’, adding: ’It has been welcomed by the BMA, Royal College of Obstetricians and gynaecologists and Royal College of Midwives who all contributed to the debate and the bill.’

Dr Allinson said: ’Rather than increasing the number of abortions, proper support, counselling and a clear description of options may actually help more women make the decision not to have a termination and continue with the pregnancy.

’We know that countries with more enlightened abortion laws like Holland actually have lower abortion rates than the UK.’

He said abortion on request up until 14 weeks was close to the ’European norm’, with the limit 12 weeks in France and Germany, 14 weeks in Spain and 18 weeks in Sweden.

’The bill emphasises abortions must take place in an NHS Hospital or clinic,’ he said. ’There are no plans to use private providers.

’The cost of the drugs to allow a medical termination is only £15 and yet women for the island are being charged over £400 in private English clinics plus the costs and stress of getting there.

’Life also makes false claims about the safety of medical terminations. The Scottish Government has taken expert medical advice and allowed women there to take the second set of pills at home rather than have to return to a clinic and risk miscarrying as they leave.

’This is an evidence-based policy supported by the medical profession which should be encouraged as healthcare services increasingly concentrate on the needs and wishes of the patient.’

He insisted: ’Rather than open any "floodgates" this bill is designed to confront the reality of women being exiled from the island for the healthcare they need.

’It will give real choice for those women who are presently forced to travel to England and will support them with post-abortion counselling and support.’