I also asked for the restoration of health and disability benefits for legal immigrants, which the Republicans had cut off in 1996 to make room in the budget for their tax cuts.

The survey questioned 800 Americans who were in pain, undergoing physical rehabilitation or seeking legal compensation for disability to find out their attitude towards their GP.

Abortion is legal until 24 weeks on 'social' grounds, such as risk to the mother's mental welfare, and beyond this limit in cases with a serious risk of severe foetal disability.