In general, the coronavirus pandemic has spurred a greater appreciation for the value of human life. Over the last 12 months, our society has pulled together, sacrificing various freedoms to stem the spread of a harmful virus. But there is one glaring contradiction. Over the last year, politicians have liberalised rules on abortion, undermining the value and dignity of the unborn child and putting women at increased risk of harm.

During the first weeks of lockdown last year, the UK Government and the Scottish Government quickly introduced controversial measures to allow ‘home abortions’. Under the new framework, women can obtain abortion pills through the post after a short telephone consultation. They can then self-administer the pills wherever they choose.

Under previous rules, a consultation with two separate doctors was required. Women were also asked to administer the first course of medication under supervision. The removal of these safeguards leaves women less informed about the abortion process. It increases the risk of life-threatening complications occurring undetected. And it puts women at greater risk of being pressured into having an abortion by an abusive partner or family member behind closed doors.

The abortion lobby and pro-abortion politicians have consistently underplayed the dangers of the new framework. They imply that ingesting ‘abortion medication’ in the early weeks of pregnancy at home is a ‘safe’, ‘dignified’ and ‘straightforward’ method of ‘terminating a pregnancy’. This is far from the reality of the situation. Medical abortions, like surgical abortions are a harrowing ordeal for women.

Medical abortions are a harrowing ordeal for women

A medical abortion involves two pills. The first drug, mifepristone, kills the unborn baby. It can trigger severe nausea and bleeding – hence the previous requirement for medical supervision. A second drug, misoprostol, taken up to 48 hours later, effectively induces labour and causes the uterus to empty out the products of abortion. After taking this second pill, women bleed painfully for hours and even days. At some point, they are confronted with the remnants of an unborn child. The psychological trauma this causes cannot be overstated.

At the present time, women are isolated from family and friends and discouraged from travelling unless absolutely necessary. Counselling and support is not available in the way it was before the pandemic began. If anything, the trauma of medical abortion at home is compounded by the coronavirus restrictions. There has never been a worse time to relax abortion rules. Women suffer alone and in silence. Without other options being offered by abortion groups, they also feel that abortion is the only choice.

Alarmingly, despite all this, lobbyists are calling on the politicians to make the new framework permanent. A Scottish Government consultation on home abortion closed last night and a separate consultation by the UK Government closes on 26 February. Unless the horror of home abortions is exposed, legislators could make them legal for years to come.

Women suffer alone and in silence

Given the strong evidence of harms associated with home abortion, there would be no justification for this. This investigation by the Mail Online in May last year found that a woman obtained and ingested abortion pills whilst 28 weeks pregnant. She was forced to deliver a dead baby. This awful incident exposed the inadequacy of telephone consultations which increase instances of abortion past the legal limit. Other reports confirm that even basic checks are not carried out. Abortion pills are easily obtained: pills by post, no questions asked.

The public is understandably concerned about home abortion, given the reports of recent months. A survey by SPUC Scotland published today found that eight in ten Scottish adults are concerned about women finding the process distressing, eight in ten adults are concerned about abortion pills being falsely obtained and eight in ten adults are concerned about women being coerced into an abortion by a partner or family member. Pro-life or not, politicians cannot ignore the concerns of constituents.

As Christians, concerned for the wellbeing of our neighbours we must speak out against home abortion. Of course, we must oppose all killing of unborn life. Abortion is, perhaps, the most blatant violation of human rights taking place in our society today. If we are prepared to take action to stem coronavirus and protect fellow citizens from a harmful virus, we can – should – do all we can to protect women and the unborn.