push-polling on attitudes towards the abortion week limit

(UPDATE: There was a typo in this post that had the poll citing 13 weeks for premature survival instead of 24; the error was completely mine and I didn't spot it until today. My apologies. Survival rates at 23 weeks are still very low and have not shown improvement; survival at 13 weeks is, of course, non-existent.)

The claim that "nearly two thirds of the public and more than three-quarters of women support a reduction in the 24-week upper age limit" deserves a little closer examination. It stems from a question in a 2005 YouGov poll for The Daily Telegraph.

The question read:

At the moment abortion is legal in Britain up to the 24th week of pregnancy. However, doctors can now save the lives of premature babies born as early as 23 weeks. From what you know, what do you think the legal limit for abortion should be?

The polling question - at very best - gives a false impression about the actual survival rates of premature babies.

Missing is any mention whatsoever of the very low survival rate for premature births outside of a small number of specialist units; also missing is any indication of the physical and mental disabilities that can arise from premature birth. Instead, there's the simple suggestion that premature babies can be routinely saved.

(Interestingly, a further question in the survey offered the following statement: "Human embyros are human beings from the moment of conception and should be given the same legal protection as new-born babies." Only 16% agreed - in other words, an overwhelming rejection of the logic advanced by so many of those on the religious right pushing for stringent restrictions on abortion.)