Carla Foster was able to obtain the drugs because of the pills-by-post policy, whereby consent is given for abortion over the phone, and the drugs sent in the post. This scheme was introduced during the COVID pandemic and made permanent in 2022.

While there are no definitive figures for the number of pills-by-post abortions, taking both medications at home is the most common procedure, accounting for 72% (200,745 out of 277,970) of abortions in 2023 (the last year statistics are available) (https://redlionchambers.co.uk/rare-poisoning-trial-ends-with-unanimous-convictions/).

There have been several cases besides hers of women obtaining drugs for self-induced abortion after the limit for these pills (ten weeks gestation) and even after the 24-week limit, by abusing this scheme.

Self-induced abortion is now how most abortions occur, and the removal of the legal deterrent is likely to lead to more cases of it being done later in pregnancy.