By Dave Andrusko
A whopping 70% of respondents to the Department of Health and Social Care said the British government should put an end to “DIY”
abortion. There are many ingredients to this opposition but primarily three reasons. There is no requirement that the woman meet with a physician in person, the possibility of coercion, and having an abortion after the 10th week.
“Results from the consultation show overwhelming support for the Government’s decision to wind down the services and make sure no more women are put at risk due to the temporary provision from 30 August 2022, with 70% of respondents saying the policy should end immediately and only 22% saying it should remain permanently,” Right to Life UK reported.
The concerns voiced by 18,834 respondents closely tracked what pro-lifers have said all along. The report recorded concerns from respondents who felt “that being certified for an abortion without seeing a doctor in person increases risks of potentially life-threatening conditions being missed, pills being prescribed beyond the 10-week limit, more women being coerced into a home abortion against their wishes and pills being obtained fraudulently”.
The Scottish government consulted on the same topic. Only 17% wanted ‘DIY’ home abortions to remain permanently available, and concerns of women’s safety were also frequently raised.
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, said:
“It is clear from this consultation that there is very strong support from the public for these dangerous measures to be ended immediately, with 70% of respondents stating so. It is therefore disappointing that the provision has not been ended on its planned end date of 30 March 2022. Nevertheless, we do welcome the Government’s decision to ensure that women get an in-person appointment before having an abortion and make sure no more women are put at risk by the temporary provision from 30 August 2022”.
She added
“By removing a routine in-person consultation that allows medical practitioners to certify gestation and recognise potential coercion or abuse, ‘at-home’ abortion has presented serious risks to women and girls in abusive situations. It has allowed severe complications to occur, as well as abortions beyond the legal limit, as abortion providers currently cannot ensure the pills are taken by the intended individual within the appropriate time frame.
