Bourne Abortion Case - AIM25

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 GC/150

Title

Bourne Abortion Case

Date(s)

1938-1993 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 file

Context area

Name of creator

Depositor

Biographical history

The Bourne Abortion Case was a precedent-forming case in 1938, in which Dr Aleck Bourne was tried for performing an abortion on a 14 year old girl who had been made pregnant by rape. Bourne's acquittal liberalised England's abortion laws, establishing psychiatric grounds as a permissible medical reason for abortion. The case is central to these studies to the legal attitude to abortion.

Repository

Wellcome Library

Archival history

GB 0120 GC/150 1938-1993 Collection (fonds) 1 file Depositor

The Bourne Abortion Case was a precedent-forming case in 1938, in which Dr Aleck Bourne was tried for performing an abortion on a 14 year old girl who had been made pregnant by rape. Bourne's acquittal liberalised England's abortion laws, establishing psychiatric grounds as a permissible medical reason for abortion. The case is central to these studies to the legal attitude to abortion.

Copies of papers relating to the Bourne Abortion Case and articles by Aleck Bourne's daughter and grandson, 1938-1993.

Given to the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre by Mrs Joan Ostry, Bourne's daughter, May 1993.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

English

SA/ALR, SA/FPA.

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Mar 2009. Medical sciences Medical profession Medical ethics Family planning Birth control Abortion Legal decisions Legal procedure Administration of justice Abortion, legal Abortion, induced Obstetric surgical procedures Surgical procedures, operative Surgery

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Copies of papers relating to the Bourne Abortion Case and articles by Aleck Bourne's daughter and grandson, 1938-1993.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Given to the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre by Mrs Joan Ostry, Bourne's daughter, May 1993.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

English

Script of material

Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

SA/ALR, SA/FPA.

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