Marie Stopes UK and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) are sending abortions pills in the post without making the necessary checks on the women who requested them, an investigation commissioned by Christian Concern has found. This neglect of basic procedure includes the failure to abide by the established 10-week limit on abortion pills in the post.
An investigation commissioned by Christian Concern has found that the most basic checks have not been made in the dispensing of DIY home abortion pills through the post by the UK’s leading abortion giants.
Marie Stopes UK and BPAS ignored basic procedures such as determining whether pregnancies were within the mandated 10-week limit for DIY home abortions, in accordance with temporary measures, opposed by SPUC, which were introduced by the British government in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Little or no attempt was made by Marie Stopes UK or BPAS to confirm the personal details of the women involved, seven of whom were found to have provided fake details, the investigation ascertained.
No effort was made to confirm the GP practice to which these women belonged.
Alithea Williams, SPUC Campaigns and Parliamentary Research Officer, has responded:
“This investigation proves what has been obvious from the beginning – that relying on a phone consultation is an irresponsible and reckless way to distribute abortion drugs. It also shows that abortion providers have no concern whatsoever for the safety of women, and will just send these powerful drugs to anyone who asks for them.”
Current status of DIY home abortion
On 30 March 2020, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care approved a temporary measure to allow women to self-administer medical (chemical) abortions at home, without meeting with a medical professional in person – a response to COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown.
At the time, SPUC, which opposed the measures, posed several questions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, such as how could abortion providers operating remotely be certain that a pregnancy is under nine weeks and six days?
SPUC also highlighted the lack of concern for women who might be coerced into having an abortion.
For a complete list of “Key questions the Secretary of State for Health”, see here.
Today’s debate
Today, MPs will debate in Parliament whether to make such temporary measures permanent in cases of domestic abuse.
Ms Williams added: “This makes it even more horrific that today in Parliament MPs are seeking to make this situation permanent for the most vulnerable women – victims of domestic abuse. If abortion providers are not carrying out even such basic checks, how can we possibly believe that they’re making sure women aren’t being coerced into abortion?”