Doctors urge MPs not to go ahead with plans to decriminalise late abortions
- Medics warn of 'serious risks' to women's health over late at-home abortions
Hundreds of doctors will today urge MPs not to go along with an attempt to decriminalise late abortions.
Close to 500 medical professionals have signed an open letter expressing 'grave concerns' about the move led by Labour's Dame Diana Johnson to spare women prosecution if they end pregnancies after 24 weeks.
They warn it would mean at-home terminations would be allowed right up to birth if women lie to obtain abortion-inducing drugs.
The medics say that would pose 'serious risks' to women's health as late at-home abortions present far more complications.
Close to 500 medical professionals have signed an open letter expressing 'grave concerns' about the move led by Labour's Dame Diana Johnson (pictured)
The medics say the plan would pose 'serious risks' to women's health as late at-home abortions present far more complications (stock image)
The letter states: 'If offences that make it illegal for a woman to perform her own abortion at any gestation were repealed, such abortions would, de facto, become possible up to birth for any reason including abortions for sex-selective purposes, as women could mistakenly or wilfully mislead abortion providers about their gestational age.'
It continues: 'Quite aside from the increased number of viable babies' lives being ended beyond the 24-week time limit, there would likely be a significant increase in such complications as it would remove any legal deterrent against women performing their own abortions late in pregnancy.
'We believe a legal deterrent remains important.'
The letter will be sent to MPs today, before they decide whether to repeal sections of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act that means women can be jailed for taking 'any poison or other noxious thing' to 'procure her own miscarriage'.
Labour's Dame Diana Johnson speaks in the House of Commons
As it is seen as a matter of conscience, MPs will be granted a free vote on the step in the next few weeks.
Pro-choice campaigners say they expect it to gain widespread support but some pro-life MPs have said they will vote down the whole Criminal Justice Bill, to which the abortion clause has been added as an amendment, if the move is voted through.
Today's letter also calls on MPs to restore the requirement that mothers-to-be are seen by medics in person before they can obtain abortion-inducing drugs to take at home, so that their 'gestational age' can be accurately assessed.
Under the 'pills by post' scheme first set up during lockdown, women can currently carry out terminations at home without being seen by any doctors.
