Calls for at-home abortions to be continued in Scotland

As reported by the BBC News, Scotland has been urged to follow England and Wales in continuing to offer at-home abortions

If approved in a phone consultation, women in Scotland have been able to take the medication in their own homes since the pandemic.

It is unknown if this telemedical model will continue permanently as the Scottish government has said it will put off making a decision until the autumn.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has said the treatment is safe and called on ministers to act now.

BPAS medical director, Dr Patricia Lohr says the research and support for the telemedical model is “overwhelming”.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) however condemned the policy as “state-sponsored backstreet abortion”.

Pre-lockdown, women would take the first of two pills under medical supervision after a face-to-face consultation. The UK government was set to return to this until March when MPs raised concerns this could increase late abortions and voted to keep the change by 215 votes to 188.

The service is still available in Scotland but a final decision on its future has not yet been made.

Dr Lohr has called on the government to make a quicker decision, stating “The risks with medical abortion are extremely low. Upwards of 95% of women will have a successful medical abortion and where they do have complications they tend to be easily managed.”

SPUC communications manager, Grace Browne, described the practice as “dangerous”.

Browne said: “This is a reckless policy which leaves women to suffer the effects of abortion at home, with no medical supervision or support, and then forces them to dispose of foetal remains on their own“.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish government commented: “A comprehensive and detailed clinical evaluation of early medical abortion at home is due to be completed in the autumn”.