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Doctors can give abortions to children without telling their parents, the Government said yesterday as it issued new and explicit advice on treating unwanted pregnancies among under-16s.

The Department of Health document says that confidentiality must be maintained if the children insist on it.

Doctors should try to persuade them to tell their parents or another family member, but "doctors and health professionals have a duty of care and a duty of confidentiality regardless of patient age", the department says.

"This guidance applies to the provision of advice and treatment on contraception, sexual and reproductive health, including abortion."

The document infuriated pro-life campaigners who said it made a mockery of the concept of parental responsibility.

Ann Widdecombe, the Tory MP, said: "What worries me is the blanket description 'under-16s'. What about 10-year-olds? Surely the parents of 10-year-olds need to know if their children are sexually active, let alone having an abortion."

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon