Bid to have home use of abortion pill allowed

The UK's biggest abortion provider is seeking a High Court ruling to make it easier for women to complete the procedure at home.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) wants an updated interpretation of the 1967 Abortion Act to allow women to take the second dose of tablets for an early medical abortion (EMA) at home.

At present, the first and second dose must be taken in a clinic or hospital under supervision. Most women go straight home after the second dose.

BPAS says the UK should follow other countries, including the United States, France and Sweden, in allowing women to safely complete terminations without repeat visits to a clinic.

The Department of Health will contest the legal action, scheduled for 28 January, while pro-life campaigners said BPAS' intention was to make abortion "little more than a pill-popping exercise".

An EMA can be used up to nine weeks' gestation and involves receiving pills in two stages. On the first visit, women swallow one mifepristone tablet and are told to return to the clinic 24 to 48 hours later. Women then receive a dose of four tablets.