A Government decision to allow women in England to take abortion pills at home is facing a legal challenge.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children says that enabling such ‘DIY’ abortions is unlawful.
Currently, a medical abortion requires a woman to take two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, 24 to 48 hours apart, and must take both in a medical practice under appropriate supervision.
‘Backstreet abortions’
Ministers will make the change by reclassifying homes in England as a place where medical abortions can legally happen.
But SPUC’s Deputy Chief Executive John Deighan said the scheme amounts to “authorising backstreet abortions”.
He said SPUC is confident “that the Government’s decision to give women the abortion pill to take home is not in keeping with the law”.
He added: “We are of the view that the policy is unlawful and effectively acts to remove the current medical oversight from the process, thereby endangering the wellbeing of women”.
Cavalier
Mr Deighan went on to accuse the abortion industry of a “cavalier attitude” to women’s health, and said the Government was trivialising abortion.
“Many vulnerable women, who may be desperate about the situation they are in, will be pushed towards what is seen as the easy option of being handed some drugs and sent home to stop being a problem for society.”
The Government has said the change will take place before the end of the year and the Department of Health and Social will now work with “key partners” – including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) – to push through the changes.
RCOG’s President, Professor Lesley Regan, has previously said that abortion should be treated no differently to minor medical procedures such as removing a bunion.