UK abortions in 2020 set to beat all-time 2019 high, and some think at-home abortions are to blame

(Right to Life UK) There has been a significant rise in the number of abortions performed so far in 2020, compared to the already all-time high figures recorded in 2019, new statistics have revealed.

The statistics, released by the Department of Health & Social Care this morning, show that 109,836 abortions were performed for English and Welsh residents in the six months between 1 January and 30 June 2020.

This is an increase of 4,296 from the same time period in 2019, where 105,540 terminations were performed. Abortion numbers for 2019 were the highest ever recorded in England and Wales over a full calendar year, at 200,608.

However, at the current rate, 2020’s abortion numbers look set to eclipse 2019’s total.

The total number of abortions which took place in England between 1 January and 30 June 2020 were 104,604, an increase of 3,820 when compared to 100,784 in 2019.

The total number of abortions which took place in Wales between 1 January and 30 June 2020 were 5,232, an increase of 476 when compared to 4,756 in 2019.

READ: At-home abortions expected to become permanent in UK after COVID-19

Rise coincides with ‘DIY’ home abortion change

Since ‘DIY’ home abortions were introduced in late March, a number of significant problems have arisen.

According to a leaked “urgent email” sent by a regional chief midwife at NHS England and NHS Improvement on the “escalating risks” of ‘DIY’ home abortions, two women have died after taking ‘DIY’ home abortion pills.

The email leak also revealed police have opened a murder investigation into the death of a baby who they believe was born alive despite her mother taking ‘DIY’ home abortion pills.

A nationwide undercover investigation found evidence of abortion providers putting women at significant risk by not carrying out basic checks before sending them ‘DIY’ home abortion pills.

It also discovered ‘DIY’ home abortion pills can easily be obtained and administered to others, potentially in a coercive manner.

In May, it was revealed UK police were investigating the death of an unborn baby after its mother took ‘DIY’ home abortion pills while 28 weeks pregnant.

In addition, abortion provider BPAS announced that it was investigating a further eight cases of women taking ‘DIY’ home abortion pills beyond the 10-week limit, raising questions over what checks are being conducted to ensure the law isn’t being broken and dangerous later-term abortions aren’t happening.

A number of women have also come forward to share the serious problems they’ve experienced after taking ‘DIY’ home abortion pills.

One woman said she went through “hell” and thought she was going to die after taking the dangerous pills.

Another woman said the pain and physical process was “horrible” and “a lot worse than expected”.

The Government has recently announced that it will be launching a consultation on whether to end the temporary measure allowing ‘DIY’ home abortions or to make it permanent.

1st Trimester Medical Abortion: Abortion Pills

‘National Tragedy’

A spokesperson for Right to Life UK, Catherine Robinson said:

“It is a national tragedy that 109,836 lives were lost to abortion between January and June 2020. This is 4,296 higher than the figure for the first six months of 2019, which was 105,540. The year of 2019 saw the highest number of abortions ever recorded in England and Wales, at 200,608 over the full year.

“Every one of these abortions represents a failure of our society to protect the lives of babies in the womb and a failure to offer full support to women with unplanned pregnancies. 

“This year we’ve come together as a nation and made great sacrifices to protect the vulnerable from Covid-19. Sadly, at the very same time we  protected one group of vulnerable people, we as society have also ended thousands of young vulnerable lives through abortion.

“This significant rise in abortions coincides with the temporary measures allowing ‘DIY’ home abortions in the UK. Since the UK Government permitted ‘DIY’ home abortions, stories of illegal late-term abortions and safety abuses have come to light.

“We, along with other pro-life campaigners, warned it was only a matter of time before a woman died as a result of a ‘DIY’ home abortion. Tragically, that has been the case with two women having their lives ended, along with the tens of thousands of babies losing their lives, under the Government’s home abortion scheme.

“These cases and the thirteen ongoing investigations are likely only the tip of the iceberg, given the date of the leaked email.

“Abortion providers, such as BPAS and Marie Stopes International, who want to keep ‘DIY’ home abortions on a permanent basis, are unlikely to want to reveal how many complications or serious incidents have arisen as a result of their ‘services’.

“There are also likely many more incidents that abortion providers don’t know about as the majority of women are not likely to come back and tell an abortion provider that they have broken the law using their service or weren’t even aware how far along they were, given they have not had an ultrasound.

“These ‘DIY’ home abortion schemes should be suspended immediately.”

Editor’s Note: This article was published at Right to Life UK and is reprinted here with permission.

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