Statistics Show a Record High in Abortions, with the Majority Being Performed at Home
Medical doctor and pro-life campaigner Dr. Calum Miller believes that one factor contributing to the surge in abortions is the permission granted during lockdown to allow women to have abortions at home.
The latest official figures reveal that the number of abortions in England and Wales has reached an all-time high, surpassing a quarter of a million. According to data released by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on Thursday, there were 251,377 abortions in the two countries in 2022, marking a 17 percent increase from the previous year.
In 2022, medical abortions involving the use of drugs made up 86 percent of terminations, with at-home abortions accounting for 61 percent of all procedures, a 9 percent rise from 2021. The DHSC highlighted an “upward trend” in medical abortions since the approval of mifepristone for use in the UK in 1991.
While it is challenging to pinpoint the exact reasons behind the surge in abortions, Dr. Miller emphasized the significant role played by the rise in at-home procedures. He noted that the “pills by post” scheme has made obtaining an abortion much more accessible.
Dr. Miller pointed out that economic factors such as living costs might also contribute to the increase in abortions, but he believes that the convenience of at-home procedures is a major factor driving the rise.
Efforts have been made to make the abortion process more normalized and convenient, which, according to Dr. Miller, can desensitize the conscience and dehumanize the unborn child by framing it as a simple healthcare procedure.
Parliament had been discussing amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to reverse the COVID-19 era measures that allowed at-home abortions. Dr. Miller expressed uncertainty about the fate of these amendments under a new government, as some Conservative MPs had previously supported the measures.
Pro-life campaigners have highlighted cases like Carla Foster, who was jailed for illegally obtaining abortion pills when she was eight months pregnant, well beyond the gestation limit. Dr. Miller emphasized the dangers associated with at-home abortions and the need to address these risks.
Labour MPs have proposed amendments related to decriminalizing abortion, but concerns have been raised about the potential impact of these changes. Dr. Miller noted that there are differing views within the Labour Party about the proposed amendments and their potential consequences.
