In this briefing, Dr Milne outlines the need for telemedical abortion to continue to be available for women so as to prevent more women experiencing "crisis" pregnancies.
In March 2020 the Department for Health and Social Care approved 2 temporary measures in England to limit the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensure continued access to early medical abortion services:
Evidence suggests that this temporary measure, known as ‘telemedical abortion’, is safe and has reduced harm to women by widening access to early medical abortion services, and so preventing more women from experiencing ‘crisis’ pregnancies.
This briefing draws on research from Durham University, which suggests that discontinuing these measures would have a detrimental effect on women’s ability to access early medical abortions, and so increase the number of women who experience ‘crisis’ pregnancies. Research also concludes that continued provision of telemedical abortion will not result in more women illegally accessing abortion to end a late-term pregnancy.
Find out more about why removal of telemedical abortion and requiring vulnerable women to attend appointments in clinics will not prevent 'crisis' pregnancies, nor safeguard children.
Watch Dr Milne talk about telemedical abortion and why it is important it continues to be available for women