Sir John Peel

Sir John Peel steered the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists through the intense debates that led to it supporting abortion law reform in 1967. He also wrote the report that engineered the move of childbirth from home and into hospital. Peel attended six royal births, all of which took place at home, and he made childbirth safe for women with diabetes and their babies.

It was during his tenure as president of the royal college that Peel chaired the committee advising the government on its bill to legalise abortion, which became the 1967 Abortion Act. The college was closely involved with the government at all stages of the bill.

The abortion debate was marked by deep divisions along religious, moral, and ethical lines, and the college was no exception to this. Its council included a prominent antiabortionist, Professor Hugh Maclaren, and several Roman Catholics, who objected on religious grounds.

Peel steered the committee through this with great diplomacy and, according to his colleague John Brudenell, he talked the council round so that it came out in support of the bill. His aim was singular and focused: he wanted to reduce the amount of disease and death associated with illegal abortion.

Peel was the author...