Doctors voted yesterday for easier access to abortions for women in the first three months of pregnancy.

But the British Medical Association’s annual representative meeting drew the line at allowing nurses and midwives to conduct abortions, or relaxing the rules on where they may be carried out.

If the BMA’s policy became law, abortion in the first trimester — which represents almost 90 per cent of all abortions — would become like any other medical treatment. A woman seeking an abortion would need only to give her informed consent to one doctor for the procedure to be provided.

At present the law requires two doctors to declare the procedure to be in the woman’s best medical interest. But the need for two signatures introduces delays that can prevent an earlier, simpler, and safer abortion.

Representatives accepted this judgment after an animated debate. Moving the resolution, Dr Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat MP, denied that it was a radical proposal. “Why on earth should women seeking termination — often distressed and anxious — be faced with irrational barriers, perceived or real, or face potential delays leading to later abortion when first trimester abortion, and in particular early medical abortion in the first nine weeks, is known to be safer and easier?” he asked.

In practice, medical abortions induced by a pill are the preferred option in the first nine weeks because they are less invasive and less expensive. They now account for about a quarter of abortions in England and Wales, and almost 60 per cent in Scotland.

Tony Calland, chairman of the BMA ethics committee, said changing the law would cut delays, which are as much seven weeks in some areas.

The general principle of requiring only a single doctor for first trimester abortions was approved by a majority of 189 to 89. The BMA will now put forward the new policy as evidence to the committee.

A report is expected by the end of the year and could be followed by a Private Member’s Bill to amend the law.

The vote was criticised by “prolife” groups. Julia Milling-ton of the ProLife Alliance, said: “Liberalisation of the law is the last thing we need. We would like to see the medical profession giving greater consideration, not to the politics of abortion, but to the medical and psychological impact on women.”

Anthony Ozimic, political secretary for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said that the proposed changes would lead to greater numbers of abortions.

Anne Furedi, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said that it was very good news for women. “The doctors and ethicists at the BMA have seen the common sense in removing medically outdated delays to women who need abortion,” she said.

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