Threat of ‘DIY abortions’ provokes pro-life outrage

BY FREDDY GRAY
BRITISH women could soon be legally able to abort their unborn children at home, after a new proposal by Britain’s largest chain of abortion clinics.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which is responsible for 48,000 terminations each year, has reportedly threatened legal action if the government refuses women the right to have abortions in their own homes using abortion pills. The procedure, known as the “do-it-yourself abortion”, involves a pregnant women taking two pills in two days.
At present “DIY terminations” are available to women until the ninth week of their pregnancy, but both pills must be taken in hospital. Under the proposed scheme, the first pill would be taken under medical supervision and the second one – which induces the miscarriage – at home. Such a method is already available in America and France.
Ann Furedi, chief execu tive of BPAS, said that the scheme would give more women more control over their own abortions, and maintained that the procedure would be easier in the comfort of their own surroundings. “They can use their own bathroom; the procedure becomes more normal,” she said.
Pro-Life groups are appalled by the proposal. Nuala Scarisbrick, trustee of the pro-life group, Life, said that her organisation had written a letter to John Hutton, the Minister for Health, urging him to resist pressure from BPAS to permit the “DIY abortions”.
“This is the abortion industry at its most callous,” she said. “They show no regard for the women who will take this pill, who will have to deal with the trauma of taking the pill that kills their babies and flushing the remains down the toilet. One wonders how a woman would ever get over such a traumatic experience.” She added that there must be health issues stemming from the disposal of human corpses in such a manner. Several anti-abortion groups have already pointed out the medical dangers of letting women have miscarriages in their homes.
“The number and diverse nature of the side effects point to the fact that these are powerful chemicals,” said Bernie Smyth, a spokeswoman for Precious Life, a Voice for the Unborn Child.
“Side effects include severe pain, haemorrhaging requiring blood transfusions, rupturing of the uterus and incomplete abortions. This abortion pill has been the cause of numerous deaths throughout the world.” Mrs Scarisbrick also said that the real incentive for BPAS was financial; use of this pill in homes would reduce the number of staff the organisation needs in their clinics, and would therefore cut costs.
The abortion pill lowers the cost of abortions for the NHS because there is no need for anaesthetists, operating theatre staff or a surgeon. “The bottom line is finance and it has nothing to do with women,” said Mrs Scaris brick. Mr Paul Danon, a spokesman for the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child, said that abortion was a “grave thing” wherever it was carried out.
“This is just moving the horror from one place to another,” he said.
“The horrible reality of what people are doing will literally come home to them at home.” Around 25, 000 of the 181, 600 abortions carried out in England and Wales last year were done using the pill method.