Charity seeks update to early medical abortion law

UK law should be changed to make it easier for women having an early medical abortion to complete the procedure at home, experts say.

At present, women must take the first and second doses of tablets for an early medical abortion under supervision in a clinic or hospital.

Many women go straight home after taking the second dose and women in many other countries – including the US, France and Sweden – do not even have to attend a clinic or hospital to take it.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is now seeking an updated interpretation of the 1967 Abortion Act to enable women to take the second dose of tablets at home.

Dr Patricia Lohr, the service's medical director, said supervision for the second dose is "medically unnecessary".

"Most women prefer to go home because it's a private setting, it's comfortable, they can have their friends with them, they can have their family with them, they can have their partner," she explained.

However, the government is expected to contest the legal action later this month.