Following cases of doctors signing consent forms for abortions without having any knowledge about a patient could make them get imprisoned.

A health watchdog investigated some clinics and it was seen that one out five clinics was not following legal guidelines following which the warning was issued.

The Abortion Act was breached by many doctors as there were cases in which some doctors were seen signing consent forms that allowed a woman to get an abortion done and that too without being aware of the reason why these women wanted abortions.

In a statement to the Parliament on Thursday, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley pledged to take swift action.

He said, “I completely understand the law doesn't require the doctor to have met the woman concerned, but to pre-sign certificates when you don't even know which woman it relates to and there hasn't been an assessment, is completely contrary to the spirit and letter of the law.”

He said that with quick action, this is being dealt with and the police will get a direct notification if anything of this nature is sensed.