The MHK behind a proposed radical reform of the island’s abortion law says he will take concerns on board.

So far the consultation on Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson’s draft Abortion Bill has received more than 2,000 replies and many hundreds of additional comments. Over 95% of responses are from people resident in the Isle of Man.

A raft of UK-based lobby groups have been urging the Manx public to respond to the consultation on draft Abortion Bill.

A group called Stop Gendercide has express deep concern that the bill if passed in its present form was open to ’misogynistic abuse’ as it would legalise sex-selective abortion for the first time in the British Isles.

Meanwhile, Down’s syndrome advocacy group Don’t Screen Us Out are concerned that the proposed abortion bill will mean more foetuses with Down’s being aborted.

And campaigners from ’We’re All Equal’ say they concerned about the ’offensive’ use of ’deeply discriminatory’ language like ’defects’, and ’handicap’ in the draft bill.

Dr Allinson said: ’I am aware of the comments and involvement of pressure groups from the UK and beyond who have objected to the bill on a number of grounds.

’Unfortunately some anti-abortion groups are using issues such as the rights of disabled people to further their cause.

’The current Manx abortion legislation uses terms from the UK Act such as "physical and mental abnormalities" and "seriously handicapped" which are now outdated. The proposed bill uses the terms "physical or mental defect" and "serious disability".

’I apologise if some groups have been offended by these terms and will gladly consider their alternative use of words when all the consultation submissions are read and analysed.’

Dr Allinson said latest figures from the UK show only 2% of abortions are carried out due to the risk of "serious handicap".

The most common reason given were malformations of the central nervous system. Some severe abnormalities may not be detected until quite late in pregnancy.

’I believe we should not deny mothers and their doctors the option of late abortion in such rare and difficult cases,’ he said.

Over 92% of abortions are now carried out at under 13 weeks, usually long before the sex of the foetus can be accurately determined.

Dr Allinson said: ’I will make sure the legislation outlaws any abortion of female foetuses purely because of their gender but do not believe this is a problem in the island and certainly not a reason to restrict women’s rights to essential healthcare.’

A raft of UK-based lobby groups have been urging the Manx public to respond to the consultation on draft Abortion Bill.