Telehealth for abortion must outlast the Pandemic

Westminster is running a public consultation about whether we should keep telemedicine for abortion care.

The pandemic has changed how women get reproductive health care shifting power from the health system to the woman. At this moment in history, we have a unique opportunity to revolutionise our approach to sexual and reproductive service, we’re asking all our members to help keep abortion safe and accessible in the UK!

COVID-19 shows there is no legitimate or medical reason to deny the use of telemedicine in abortion services going forward, so we must continue to campaign for permanent changes to the law that reflect the reality of abortion in 2021. 

TAKE ACTION

Email your MP using our handy tool and respond to the Government’s consultation and urge them to trust women and make self-managed abortion permanent.

Postcode:

Double up on your action and make sure the pro-choice view on early medical abortion is heard.

We need as many people as possible to contact their MPs and send in a submission to the Government consultation. 

• The consultation ends on 26 February 2021
• ONE MINUTE ACTION – EMAIL YOUR MP TODAY USING OUR EMAIL TOOL
• 30 MINUTE ACTION – Respond to this consultation online
• Read our handy step-by-step guide here
• READ FSRH, RCOG, RCM and BSACP launch joint guidance on COVID-19 and abortion care here
• Share #KeepTelemedicine Twitter – @Abortion_Rights Facebook – @Abortionrightsuk  

WHAT IS SELF MANAGED ABORTION? 

Self‐administered medical abortion as the act of a woman taking mifepristone, or misoprostol, or both, (i.e. inserting the pill(s) in her mouth or vagina), on her own, without supervision of a healthcare provider, during at least one stage of the drug regimen. This regimen may take place in one of three scenarios as follows:

1. The woman takes both mifepristone and misoprostol without healthcare provider supervision.
2. The woman takes misoprostol‐only without healthcare provider supervision.
3. The woman takes mifepristone in a clinic while being supervised by a healthcare provider, and subsequently takes misoprostol without healthcare provider supervision.

Why should we make the measure permanent?

There are countless compelling reasons why someone might choose to self-administer an abortion, even outside of the context of a public health crisis- victims ofPeople in precarious employment, for example, may be unable to take the time off work needed for in-clinic consultations.

As a society, we must trust that people will make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

Facts and Statistics Self-Managed Abortions

• Women report finding self-managed abortion with approved medication safe, effective and convenient.
• Major medical complications have dropped by TW0-THIRD
• waiting time for abortion has HALVED to 4.5 days and the duration of pregnancy at which abortions occur has reduced from over 8 weeks to under 7 weeks
• lowered gestational age
• Ensures access to the most vulnerable– Women in coercive or abusive relationships or living situations may be unable to leave the house without arousing suspicion in their abuser and potentially putting them in danger. People on low-income may be unable to afford childcare costs. Those who live in rural or remote areas may not be able to travel to their nearest abortion clinic, which could be many miles away.

Home Use Consultation Guidance

Recent Posts

• PRESS RELEASE: Argentina legalises abortion in landmark vote
• Tavistock v Bell
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies
• Press Release: Poland Rolls Back Reproductive Rights
• Press Release: Bishop Seitz has denounced single-issue voting on abortion

Abortion Rights on Twitter