Wales Plans to Allow Home Abortions

04.07.2018

The Welsh government has announced plans to allow women to take the abortion pill at home instead of at a location approved by the Abortion Act. Critics have questioned whether the plan is lawful, and a similar policy in Scotland is being challenged in the courts.

Welsh Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said guidance would be issued to health boards in Wales to allow misoprostol, the second drug used to cause a medical abortion, to be self-administered at home. He said this would offer “additional choice” to women seeking an abortion and allow them to have it “in an environment where they feel most comfortable.”

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Britain’s largest abortion provider said the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt should make a similar change in England.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) say it is unclear as to how Mr Gething has made the policy change, “as the Welsh Government does not have the power to amend the 1967 Abortion Act”. The pro-life organisation pointed out that the Scottish Government also approved DIY abortions late last year, but this is currently facing a legal challenge.

Christian Institute. July 3. Sky News. June 29.