Fears rise over home abortions

Pandemic measures allowing for complete home abortions since March 2020 could become permanent.

Under temporary legislation, women up to ten weeks’ pregnant can take two consecutive ‘abortion pills’ at home, followed by a remote medical consultation, avoiding the need to attend a clinic in person. Previously, only the second pill could be administered at home.

However, the government has recently consulted on whether to make the measure permanent and pro-abortion groups argue it is safe and effective. Katherine O’Brien of the BPAS has described the development of telemedical abortion care as ‘a silver lining’of the pandemic.