I submitted written evidence to the Criminal Justice Bill Committee in response to the proposed (abortion decriminalisation) amendments NC1 and NC2 submitted by MPs Dame Diana Johnson and Stella Creasy, respectively.
Executive Summary
- Self-management of a medical abortion at 12-weeks or greater gestational age is considered unsafe, and thus not to be recommended, by the World Health Organisation, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the abortion drug manufacturers. The WHO notes there is only available evidence for safe self-management of medical abortion by women for pregnancy durations up to 10 weeks (70 days).
- Given the increased risk of abortion failure, the increased risk of uterine rupture, and the risk of a live-birth, it is understandable why both the WHO and the RCOG do not recommend self-managed abortion at 12-weeks or more. These are the very cases that would be enabled by the proposed amendments, NC1 and NC2.
- The Committee should reject both amendments NC1 and NC2. Removing women from the current abortion law will lead to many more women choosing to self-manage their abortions in an unsafe manner. This increase in the number of unsafe abortions will cause more trauma to women than may have been caused by past prosecutions. Changing investigation, prosecution, and sentencing guidelines is a much safer approach to improving care for these vulnerable women.
You can read the full submission online at the Parliament website, or below.
Percuity 