Go-ahead for home abortions
SCOTTISH women will be allowed to end their pregnancies at home after ministers confirmed the introduction of ‘DIY’ abortions.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer has informed all health boards that a powerful termination drug can now be taken outside a clinic following a change in licensing.
This means that for the first time in the UK, women can undergo an abortion at home – a significant move sweeping aside decades of legislation.
Although some welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision, insisting it will ‘end the horrendous experience’ for some women, campaigners branded the move ‘immoral’. They claimed that it could ‘mark a return to the
days of back street abortions’. Currently, terminations can only be carried out at licensed premises such as hospitals and clinics. This means women must visit medics twice over a short period of time to take the two pills required to complete the abortion.
But yesterday, Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell confirmed plans which will allow women to carry out abortions at home. She said: ‘Abortion can be an emotive subject – however I am proud this Government is working hard to ensure women are always able to access clinically safe services.
‘Scotland is now the only part of the UK to offer women the opportunity to take Misoprostol at home when this is clinically appropriate, a decision that allows women to be in control of their treatment and as comfortable as possible during this procedure.’
Campaigners expressed concerns over the changes last night insisting they could pose a ‘dreadful threat’ to the health of ‘vulnerable women’.
John Deighan, chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Scotland, said: ‘This would mark a return to the days of back street abortions with no medical oversight and dreadful threats to women’s health.’
A medical abortion has involved a woman taking two different drugs 24, 48 or 72 hours apart in front of a medical professional.
The first tablet is called Mifepristone which blocks the hormone progesterone, which is needed to maintain a pregnancy.
The second tablet is Misoprostol – which will now be handed to women at the same time for them to take at home.
Doctors had been campaigning for the change, claiming there were concerns many women were experiencing a termination as they travelled home from hospital or clinic, which can result in heavy bleeding. The move announced by Miss Campbell yesterday will not see any changes to legislation, including the Abortion Act 1967, despite abortion laws being devolved to Scotland last year.
Instead, the Scottish Government has decided to revise the licensing of Misoprostol following clinical guidance from Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer.
This will make Scotland the first place in the UK to allow abortions to be carried out at home and outside a clinical setting.
Last night, a spokesman for the Catholic Church argued that a poll earlier this year revealed overwhelming support for the tightening of abortion laws.
He said: ‘Since abortion is never the answer to a crisis or unwanted pregnancy, making abortion easier brutally ignores the reality that an innocent human life is ended. The majority of our fellow citizens do not support the current abortion laws. The decision to ease them further is both immoral and in conflict with public opinion.’
However, campaign group Abortion Rights said the move would ‘end the horrendous experience of abortions commencing on public transport’. It says this is a common side-effect of Misoprostol,
‘Allows women to be in control’
which after being taken can cause the process to move quickly.
Vice-chairman Jillian Merchant said: ‘We welcome the decision of the Scottish Government to make abortion pills available for home administration.’
Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: ‘This will spare women not only the difficulties associated with having to make more than one clinic visit – childcare, transport, time off work – but it will also spare women from the risk of symptoms on their way home, having taken the medication in a clinic.’
She called on the UK Government to follow Scotland’s example and allow access to abortions at home in England and Wales.
The announcement was made as campaigners prepare to protest over current abortion laws, claiming that terminations have a ‘horrific’ impact on women’s health, 50 years after they were legalised.