The Case Against DIY Abortion

At-home or telemedicine abortion was introduced on 30 March 2020, as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a public consultation, the UK Government announced that the policy will end in August 2022. However, abortion providers lobbied hard to make the measure permanent.

On Wednesday 30 March, MPs voted in favour of a Lords amendment to the Healthcare Bill to make the controversial pills-by-post abortion scheme permanent.

There is abundant evidence that DIY abortion is a reckless, poorly evidenced policy that harms women. It is shameful that ministers failed to honour the undertaking that at-home abortion would be a temporary measure only.

We will continue to fight against DIY abortion, and to fight for the rights of all unborn children.

At-home Abortions:

the case agains a permanent policy

We commissioned SavantaComRes to carry out polling on the views on DIY abortion in England and Scotland.

Over 70% of people were concerned about women having abortion at home and even more were worried about women being coerced.

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The Evidence

Freedom of Information (FOI) responses from NHS Trusts in England show that 5.9% of women using medical abortion are subsequently treated in hospital for complications arising from an incomplete abortion.
Data from FOI requests to NHS Ambulance Services indicate that on average 36 women make 999 calls every month seeking medical assistance for complications arising from the taking of abortion pills.
The policy is impossible to regulate – a mystery client investigation found that fake aliases were able to obtain pills without identity checks or having to provide NHS numbers.

How You Can Help

You can start by reading more about our efforts and the ways you can get involved by joining our campaign to End the DIY Abortion.
We have developed a tool that allows you to write to your local MPs / MSPs or MSs, depending on where you live. To assist you in this, we have also produced resources that can help you format your message and communicate with your representatives more effectively.

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Our Research

Huge opposition to DIY abortion among the public and doctors.

SPUC commissioned SavantaComRes to carry out polling on the views of people in England and Scotland on DIY abortion. 71% of adults in England and 68% in Scotland were concerned about women having a medical abortion at home after a phone or video consultation with a doctor. Even higher percentages were worried about women being coerced.

SPUC also commissioned a poll of GPs in conjunction with Christian Concern. A majority also opposed the policy, and a staggering 86% of were concerned about the risk of women being coerced into an abortion.

Resources on DIY Abortions

At home abortions
The case against a permanent policy

Abortion Pills
Not safe or simple

DIY Abortion
What GPs Think

DIY Abortion
What Public Thinks