Complaint
The programme included a discussion of issues arising from the case of Carla Foster, who had been sentenced to imprisonment for inducing an abortion later in her pregnancy than the law currently allows.聽 A listener complained that the item had been 鈥渁 soap box鈥 for those who opposed prosecution in such cases.聽 The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 大象传媒鈥檚 editorial standards of impartiality.
Outcome
The discussion was not about the rights and wrongs of abortion but about the issues of law, criminalisation and public interest raised by the case.聽 Of the two interviewees, one argued in favour of decriminalisation in general and against prosecution in this case.聽 The other argued that laws passed by Parliament should be obeyed and required enforcement, which would necessitate prosecution in some cases.聽 Although he also observed (as a former member of the Crown Prosecution Service) that particular circumstances in the case might have inclined him not to recommend prosecution of Ms Foster, his contribution, together with the presenter鈥檚 challenges to the views expressed by both interviewees, was enough to ensure impartiality on the issue under discussion.
Not upheld