The Scottish Government has announced the biggest change to abortion provision in Scotland since 1967: introducing telemedicine abortions where ‘DIY’ abortions will be performed at home by women on themselves without a doctor or other medical professional present.

The very substantial change has been made without any public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny or debate.

Previously, abortions could only take place in hospitals or abortion clinics approved by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Under the new temporary policy, doctors will be able to prescribe abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) over the phone or video (e.g. Facetime or Skype).

Women will then perform their own abortion at home, by taking both abortion pills, meaning they will be left to deliver their own dead unborn child at home without direct medical supervision.

Further information on the serious problems with ‘DIY’ abortions is available in our press release here.