As the coronavirus pandemic escalates, this afternoon the government has announced the biggest change to abortion provision since 1967, without any public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny or debate.
The Department for Health and Social Care announced on Twitter on Monday 23 March that it would be introducing telemedicine abortions. This will see ‘DIY’ abortions performed on women by themselves in their homes without the need for a doctor or medical professional.
Before this proposal, abortions could only take place in hospitals or abortion clinics approved by the Secretary of State.
Under the new temporary policy, doctors will be able to prescribe mifepristone and misoprostol over the phone or video platforms such as Facetime or Skype.
Through these pills, women will then be left to perform their own abortion at home without direct medical supervision.
Chief Executive of Christian Concern, Andrea Williams, said:
“At a time of national and global crisis, to be pushing through a back-door policy that will put thousands of women at risk is dangerous and chilling.
“This policy will not help the women involved and will only lead to further vulnerability and trauma.
“The idea that our medical profession is prepared to prescribe such powerful drugs, in effect on demand, without seeing the patient is disturbing.
“In a time when we are all living in the shadow of death this move is ironic in its flagrant disregard for life. These pills cost somewhere in the region of 15 pence, but end a human life
“It does not smack of a kind and compassionate society, but one that is expedient and does not recognise the value of human life or the vulnerability of a woman who finds herself in a difficult situation.
“Something has gone wrong at the heart of our democratic systems when such a policy is introduced without proper public scrutiny, especially when our NHS is and will be under such strain in the coming weeks and months. We call on the government to urgently repeal these changes.”