Some specialists discuss the UK government’s pronounced up-turn on medical abortion in the coronavirus outbreak. They had made their own research and other evidence to make the case for women easy to do a medical abortion at home, following a video or phone consultation.
On 23rd March, the secretary of Health and social care supported some emergency measures associating with abortion regulation which would have transformed abortion practice in England. Women can buy online abortion pills and take abortion pills at their home, without going to the clinic, they can consult themselves on video or a phone call. This was described as considering for self-isolation guidelines and the inadequate opportunity women would have during the COVID-19 outbreak to seek a medical abortion, possibly directing to a number of unplanned pregnancies being mandatory to proceed or women being required to resort to unsafe or illegal methods to end the pregnancy. Furthermore, self-isolation can lead to a rise in sexual activity amongst some, not to discuss the increased risk of sexual violence within a quarantine setting. Thus, this alters in regulation was announced as a major discovery for emergency management of the Coronavirus and meeting women’s reproductive needs. That being so, it was exceptional that within 4 hours of this announcement, came the following ‘ This was published in error. There will be no changes to abortion regulation’.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has concluded that 44,000 women in England will attempt early-stage abortion in the following 13 weeks. It is a clear need to consider the impact of Coronavirus-19 self-isolation on all conceptive health services, and prominently abortion. Not only can the exclusive provision of healthcare ease the increasing pressure on the health system, but without this option, women who find themselves with an undesired pregnancy will be required to choose between exposing themselves to the risk of infection with the Coronavirus in clinic waiting rooms, or to continue with the pregnancy the do not wish to.
This is a representation of a broader global debate enclosing the use of medical abortion (the use of Mifepristone and Misoprostol to discontinue early pregnancy). Substantial research has shown that medical abortion is an effective method for ending in early pregnancy; it is the most convenient and cost-effective method than surgical abortion and when women have to make a decision, they express a preference for medical abortion. There is also evidence to show that medicines can be safely given using telemedicine and that there is no such high risk to take the medications at home. Following regulatory changes in Scotland and Wales, rules in England changed to permit women to take the 2nd set of abortion pills at home, but an unwanted clinic visit is still important to take the first pill. 2 doctor’s sign is also still required for a woman to have an abortion in the first point in spite of advocacy by the faculty of Sexual and Reproductive health of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists appealing for this to be changed especially due to COVID-19 for only 1 doctor, practitioner or nurse required to ensure women can take care and reduce the unnecessary burden on the health system.
So much about the COVID-19 outbreak is not so known: medical research is desolately trying to come up with answers to how the Coronavirus is spreading, whether the vaccine or any remedy will work, whilst epidemiologists and modelers are selecting on transmission and the utility of public health interventions. Meantime, hospitals in the UK are at breaking point with overburdened healthcare professionals and facilities which are placing the NHS on the brink of a breakdown.
Policy-making on pregnancy termination has a record of ignoring clinical evidence which makes it very disappointing that this policy of telemedicine for abortion was unexpectedly withdrawn without justification or explanation, despite parliamentary and public pressure.
Safe Medical Abortion 