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Original poster

Campaign for home use of abortion pills

121 replies

Cwenthryth · 31/03/2018 08:51

Re-posting this in chat as I originally posted in feminist activism but don’t think anyone noticed!

Please share & sign this open letter to Jeremy Hunt & Vaughan Gething calling for home use of abortion pills, so women are not forced to miscarry their pregnancies in public.

www.womensequality.org.uk/homeuse?utm_campaign=launch_homeuse_mem&utm_medium=email&utm_source=womensequality

OP posts:
Ohdearyme2018 · 23/04/2018 21:07

AssassinatedBeauty Sorry I didn’t explain myself well.

What I mean is - what if the person for whatever reason doesn’t take the pills properly, and perhaps doesn’t take the second pill at all - that person could have a missed miscarriage/retain tissues. That person could have far reaching medical problems because she had not taken the pills correctly. What if a young girl takes the first pill but for some reason doesn’t take the second, what are the possible consequences of this?

There are many young vulnerable women who might not be able to take responsibility to take this medication on thier own correctly. I think this petition is a bit naive I’m sorry

Ohdearyme2018 · 23/04/2018 21:08

AssassinatedBeauty I misccarried and I took the pill at hospital, so I don’t know that that is correct 💐

AssassinatedBeauty · 23/04/2018 21:09

No, if you read the link from the OP it is clear that women who have miscarried and who are having the same pills are allowed to have them at home. The article explains the assumptions made in the 1960s about abortions, before these pills were developed. It's outdated requirements based on a 1960s medical understanding.

SaltySeaBird · 23/04/2018 21:11

Forgive my ignorance.

Is there not a risk the pills could be not taken and then misused. Somebody could change their mind or be coerced into taking it - less likely in a medical setting. If they say no and back out in hospital they can’t later be forced into it by a partner. The pills can’t be left lying around and forced on somebody else.

These are dangerous drugs if misused and once they leave a medical setting control is lost.

I didn’t realise people could take the medication home for a missed miscarriage but in that circumstance it’s far less likely to have a change of mind or coercion driving it.

SaltySeaBird · 23/04/2018 21:11

I wasn’t allowed to take the medication home for a missed miscarriage.

AssassinatedBeauty · 23/04/2018 21:14

@SaltySeaBird women in Scotland are already allowed to take the pill at home.

Anyone prescribed any kind of prescription medicine could misuse it and be coerced into giving it to someone else. Should all strong medicines only be given in a medical setting?

Ohdearyme2018 · 23/04/2018 21:17

AssassinatedBeauty Well I had my pills in hospital, so I really don’t know if that’s true in other cases - not in my experience.

Plus I do think it’s a totally different situation. My miscarriage was not my choice - it was happening anyway. But my friends abortion was a decision.

What if a vulnerable woman takes the first pill at home but then is bullied by a friend/family member into not taking the second pill? Can the medical professional be sure that this vulnerable woman taking this pill at home has as a choice?, can we all be sure that she is not being pressured in any way?

My friend took the pill with the nurse on her own. I was not allowed in with her - nor was her mother - Who was very pushy and insistent that she get an abortion.

The nurses/doctors need to make sure that this is the woman’s decision - not anyone else’s pressuring her.

For that reason alone I cannot support this petition, I think it would make many woman vulnerable.

AssassinatedBeauty · 23/04/2018 21:23

Fair enough, not everyone will agree with this, but I just wanted to signpost the information in the petition description that explains the reasoning for the petition. It's not going against medical advice, as it's already done in Scotland and for managing miscarriages at home.

I'd think it likely that if a medical professional thinks that a young girl or adult women isn't capable of taking the pills properly she wouldn't be given them and would be monitored in a medical setting instead.

SaltySeaBird · 23/04/2018 21:26

@AssassinatedBeauty

I don’t know, I don’t feel I know enough of the medical consequences of not taking the second pill to judge.

I think strong medication treating an illness is most likely to be used by the person needing it but this is medication that someone can choose to just not take, or force onto somebody with potentially devastating and irreversible consequences.

I’m not saying I’m against the petition, I just feel this is a big issue being simplified. I am the first to say I don’t understand the full implications and may be over thinking it.

Badgerthebodger · 23/04/2018 21:26

Signed. I think the fact that you also have to (on paper anyway) convince two doctors it would be detrimental to your mental health is also ridiculous and infantilising. Women should have full agency over their own bodies.

Ohdearyme2018 · 23/04/2018 21:29

AssassinatedBeauty Just want to add that I’m totally supportive of choice and I hope the best outcome for woman is met in regards to this. - whatever that may be.

I just worry about the vulnable woman who might be bullied by family members - which happens!

Abortion is a massive thing and not to be taken lightly.

And again I do not agree with misscarriges being brought into this argument, it makes no sense. It’s a totally different thing! There is not a CHOICE in a miscarriage. So no problems with family members pushing the woman to take pills or not.

AssassinatedBeauty · 23/04/2018 21:30

SaltySeaBird maybe people who are prescribed strong medicines are less likely to pass them to others, but still a lot of prescription medicine ends up being sold on. It still gets prescribed though. Doctors don't withhold it based on whether they judge the person might misuse it. Somehow only women who want an abortion are deemed likely to be untrustworthy or especially likely to be coerced.

Gammeldragz · 23/04/2018 21:32

Signed. I opted for surgical abortion as I wanted it all over by the time I went home. When I had lost my 4th baby the pills they gave to make me go into labour didn't work, so I didn't trust the medical termination to work and also didn't want to be going through it at home with DCs around. But patient choice is paramount so yes this should be allowed.

Ohdearyme2018 · 23/04/2018 21:33

@AssassinatedBeauty What if a woman wants an abortion, gets the pills from the doctor and takes them home. Then a family member finds the pills and stops the woman from taking them - what then?

ReluctantCamper · 23/04/2018 21:57

signed and another little bumpity bump

custardcream5 · 23/04/2018 22:02

Signed!

Absolutely agree. Had an awful experience years ago in a macdonalds toilet as didn't realise how quickly the tablets took to work and think it's pretty unacceptable that the law has not changed already...

Fingers crossed as it would make an already unbearable and harrowing experience slightly more comfortable if anything

Ohdearyme2018 · 23/04/2018 22:06

No one can answer that I see....

TripleRainbow · 23/04/2018 22:09

Signed.

Women must have choices.

Good to see WEP pushing for the rights of women.

AssassinatedBeauty · 23/04/2018 22:12

Then her abortion won't be complete, @Ohdearyme2018, due to being coerced by her family members. You believe that it's more important to guarantee that will never happen than it is to help women not end their pregnancies on public transport or public toilets and so on. I disagree with that, and don't expect to be able to convince you to agree with me.

LassWiADelicateAir · 23/04/2018 22:19

What if a woman wants an abortion, gets the pills from the doctor and takes them home. Then a family member finds the pills and stops the woman from taking them - what then?

I don't think this petition is suggesting that the only option is to take them at home. I would guess that a woman in that situation probably would know she might be vulnerable to coercion and would opt to take them at the clinic.

I have never had an abortion. I don't know if it is explained how quickly the pills work and what happens. At the very least it sounds as if women should be told to come prepared with maximum absorbency sanitary towels or even maximum absorbency Tena lady; probably better to wear a thick, but loose fitting skirt which might be more comfortable than jeans or trousers; and ensure they have transport and a friend with them.

LassWiADelicateAir · 23/04/2018 22:23

What if a woman wants an abortion, gets the pills from the doctor and takes them home

Then don't take them at home. Have a bottle of water and take them 10-15 minutes before she gets home.

SweetLike · 23/04/2018 22:27

Even being able to take the pill in your local GP Surgery would be better. Closer to home, and yet in the presence of a medical professional.

Our nearest Marie Stopes meant using the M25. It was awful. I felt horrid and like I needed to push in the car. I was terrified about what was happening and writhing in pain. It was really dangerous. I was 21. The experience was awful. And there were protestors outside when I went in.

LassWiADelicateAir · 23/04/2018 22:33

Even being able to take the pill in your local GP Surgery would be better. Closer to home, and yet in the presence of a medical professional

Do you have to go to an abortion clinic for this? Can a gp practice deal with it?

Babdoc · 23/04/2018 22:41

The law on abortion dates back to 1967, when only surgical abortion existed, and there were no tablets for medical abortion. It quite reasonably laid down that abortions could only be conducted in properly licenced medical premises, such as hospitals or clinics.
The problem now is that a tablet induced medical abortion still counts as an abortion under the terms of the Abortion Act, hence women having to take the tablets in hospital.
The law would need to be amended to specifically exclude medical abortions, in order for the tablets to be taken at home. There is no reason why this cannot be done fairly quickly and simply, but it does need the agreement of parliament.
Good luck with the campaign, but I think the main problem will prob be limited parliamentary time as it’s fully taken up with all the Brexit legislation!

Ohdearyme2018 · 24/04/2018 07:28

This petition will take away the rights of vulnerable woman.

Not all woman have choice and control in their lives unfortunatly