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Medical professionals open letter to MPs on proposed changes to abortion legislation

Two amendments that propose extreme changes to abortion legislation have been tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill.

MPs, Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy, have tabled amendments that would change the law so it would no longer be illegal for women to administer their own abortions right through to birth. If either of these amendments were to become law, it would not only lead to an increased number of babies’ lives being ended beyond the current 24-week time limit, but would also likely lead to serious risks to women’s health because of the dangers involved with self-administered late-term abortions. 

Rather than changing the law in this way, MPs ought to reinstate in-person medical appointments in order to accurately assess a woman’s gestational age, any health risks and the possibility of coercion before abortion pills can be prescribed.

Further information can be found here.

It is vital that MPs are aware that there is widespread concern from medical professionals about these proposals, as well as support for the reinstatement of in-person appointments for women seeking abortions. 

If you are a medical professional, please take action by adding your name to this open letter to MPs. 

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Open letter to MPs and ministers

Dear Members of Parliament,

We are writing as medical professionals to express our grave concerns with Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy’s amendments (New Clauses 1 and 201) to the Crime and Policing Bill that would change the law so it would no longer be illegal for women to administer their own abortions right through to birth. Instead of supporting these amendments, we urge MPs to protect women by reinstating in-person appointments before abortion pills may be prescribed in order to accurately assess a woman’s gestational age, health risks and the risk of coercion.

If offences that make it illegal for a woman to administer her own abortion at any gestation were repealed, such abortions would, de facto, become possible up to birth for any reason including abortions for sex-selective purposes, as women could, mistakenly, knowingly or under coercion, mislead abortion providers about their gestational age. If either of these amendments were to become law, it would also likely lead to serious risks to women’s health because of the dangers involved with self-administered late abortions.

A November 2023 government review of abortion complications in England from 2017 to 2021 found that the complication rate for medical abortions that happen in a clinical setting is 160 times higher for abortions at 20 weeks and over compared with medical abortions under 10 weeks.2 The complication rate is likely to be far higher for women administering their own abortions at home without medical supervision well beyond the current 24-week time limit. 

Quite aside from the increased number of viable babies’ lives being ended beyond the 24-week time limit, there would likely be a significant increase in such complications if Tonia Antoniazzi or Stella Creasy’s amendments were to pass as they would remove any legal deterrent against women administering their own abortions late in pregnancy. The current law permits flexibility and compassion where necessary but, for these reasons, we believe a legal deterrent remains important.

Rather than making matters worse by passing either of these amendments, as medical professionals, we, the undersigned, call on MPs to vote against New Clauses 1 and 20. We also urge Parliament to reinstate in-person appointments before women may be prescribed abortion pills in order to accurately assess their gestational age and health. This is an important part of safeguarding (to protect against coerced abortion) and would enable healthcare professionals to ensure that abortion pills are only prescribed in cases when it is both medically and legally compliant to do so.

Yours sincerely,
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