The Government’s announcement, last week, to scrap DIY abortion has exposed the lies of the abortion industry, which shamelessly sought to exploit the dangerous scheme to further normalise abortion, SPUC has said. An overwhelming majority of respondents to the Government consultation on DIY abortion said that the policy undermined the safety and wellbeing of women.
Last Thursday, SPUC welcomed the decision by the Department of Health and Social Care to scrap the dangerous DIY home abortion scheme, allowing women to take early abortion pills at home.
The decision was made after a consultation that received 18,834 responses, the vast majority of which were submitted online, between 26 November 2020 and 26 February 2021.
70% of respondents said that DIY home abortion should end immediately, while only 22% said the scheme should be made permanent.
Safeguarding women, the primary concern
The safeguarding of women was the primary concern of respondents, 69% of whom stated that DIY abortion had a negative impact – most of all regarding the safety of women.
In terms of women’s safety, respondents cited the risk or coercion, domestic abuse and medical safety as chief reasons not to make DIY abortion permanent.
The consultation summary also revealed that campaign responses, from organisations as well as campaign-associated individuals, including SPUC supporters, played a key role in the overall decision to end the scheme.
What happens now?
Minister Maggie Throup has said that early medical abortion will “return to pre-COVID arrangements”, though the scheme has been extended for another six months. SPUC has expressed its disappointment that, given the inherent dangers of the scheme, DIY abortion has not been ended immediately.
The horrors of DIY abortion
SPUC has documented the numerous dangers of DIY abortion:
SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs & Legal Services), said: “The irrefutable findings of this consultation cried out for an immediate end to DIY abortion – an irresponsible and dangerous policy that should never have been implemented in the first place.
“Government could not reasonably or responsibly make DIY abortion permanent, not now or ever.
“Our only disappointment is that the scheme has been extended for another six months. SPUC will, of course, continue to hold the Government to account and ensure that the horrific DIY abortion scheme is ended.
“The public has sent a clear message to the Government, as well as to the abortion industry. Putting women at risk is simply unacceptable and must be stopped.”
A defeat for shameless abortion industry
Mr Robinson continued: “SPUC’s own consultation submission, as well as the submissions of its dedicated supporters, aided by SPUC, had a vital role to play in this consultation and final decision. While we all have a long way to go to rid the world of the blight of abortion, this is an important victory in England.
“No doubt, abortion providers and their advocates sought to further normalise abortion – taking advantage of the extraordinary situation we have found ourselves in during these last two years – to shamelessly pursue a pro-abortion agenda
“Ultimately, it was women and their unborn babies that suffered. DIY abortion truly underlines just how uncaring and irresponsible this horrible industry is. The safety and wellbeing of women have never been its true concern.”
“I don’t want anyone to suffer like I did”
A woman named Sophie, who had a DIY abortion, revealed the horror of what happened next. “There were big chunks coming out of me”, she recalls. “I would break down sobbing in the shower because chunks were coming out of me – it was absolutely horrifying…
“There are 100% other women out there like me.”
Read more about Sophie’s story here.