Variables in abortion counselling

Five variables involved in abortion counselling are examined: the religioethical beliefs of the counsellor, the religio-ethical beliefs of the counselee, the status of abortion laws, the available techniques for abortion, and the counsellor's assumptions about the 'sequellae' of abortion. Illustrations are drawn from both the recently published Lane Report and a set of medical case-studies. An attempt is made to assess the relative importance of the five variables.