Women 'should be allowed to have home abortions'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Women should be allowed to have abortions at home, a leading gynaecologist said yesterday. The call by Professor Allan Templeton, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, could trigger a furious row over abortion before the general election, which is expected in May.
Anti-abortion campaigners told The Independent they planned to target pro-abortion MPs in marginal seats, in an attempt to copy the rise of the right-wing "moral majority" in the US presidential elections.
Professor Templeton made his call at a Westminster summit on abortion, which was used by pro-abortion charities and campaigners to call for abortion to be made more freely available early in pregnancy.
The Government has been holding trials of the abortion drug RU486 for abortions at home. Two doses are administered in hospital under medical supervision but for the first time, women were allowed to have the abortion at home. John Reid, the Secretary of State for Health, is expected to delay a decision until after the general election.
Ian Gibson, the Labour chairman of the Commons Select Committee on Science, who organised the meeting, said the Government should avoid turning the clock back to the era of backstreet abortions, depicted in the film Vera Drake.
Anti-abortion campaigners were strengthened by growing public alarm over the dramatic ultrasound film produced last July by Professor Stuart Campbell at London's Create Health Clinic of a 12-week foetus "walking" in the womb.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments