 His actions were later commended by "The Lancet" as ""an example of disinterested conduct in consonance with the highest traditions of the profession"".His defence had been based on the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 in which, under British law, the only recognised justification for the termination of a pregnancy was if the life of the woman was in danger.His defence was that although there was no direct danger to her life, termination of the pregnancy was justified because of the risks to her physical and mental health.