Telemedicine for abortions should be here to stay

Jillian Merchant
Monday July 05 2021

In recent weeks the Scottish government published its analysis of responses to its public consultation on the continued use of telemedicine for abortion services. It concluded that it would consider the responses, along with further evidence, before making any decision.

Last week this decision came under fire from the Catholic Media Office. As a starting point, it is important to note that public consultations on healthcare procedures are exceptionally rare. It says a lot about the lack of value and trust, placed by society on women and their health, that the public at large should have any say in medical procedures. There are few, if any, other subjects where scientific advances are seen with such fear and inaction than women’s health.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/telemedicine-for-abortions-should-be-here-to-stay-ww3znv0kh


Scottish Labour MSP withdraws invitation to US academic

Scottish Labour MSP withdraws invitation to US academic
Prof Priscilla Coleman authored highly criticised study into link between abortion and anxiety

Libby Brooks
Fri 23 Feb 2018

A Scottish Labour MSP has withdrawn her invitation to speak at the Holyrood parliament from an academic who has linked abortion to mental health issues after fellow MSPs raised concerns about the event.

Elaine Smith, Scottish Labour’s spokesperson on poverty and inequality, invited colleagues to a meeting titled Abortion in Scotland: a solution or a problem? at which US professor Priscilla Coleman had been asked to speak. Coleman was the author of study that looked at the link between abortion and anxiety, mood and substance abuse disorders, which has been heavily criticised.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/23/scottish-labour-msp-withdraws-invitation-priscilla-coleman-abortion


Free abortion offer for Northern Ireland women

Free abortion offer for Northern Ireland women
Helen Puttick, Scottish Health Correspondent

November 1 2017, The Times

Women from Northern Ireland will be able to have abortions in Scotland free of charge from next week after an attempt to block the move in Holyrood was dropped.

Pregnancy terminations are allowed in Northern Ireland only if the mother’s life is in danger or there is a serious risk to her physical or mental health.

Continued at source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/free-abortion-offer-for-ulster-women-78s7jmsw0


Potential abortion shake-up could see terminations performed in Scotland up to 24 weeks

Jan 3, 2017
Helen McArdle, Health Correspondent / @HMcardleHT
Herald Scotland

WOMEN who are up to 24 weeks pregnant could undergo an abortion on the NHS in Scotland for the first time following a push to make late-stage terminations available.

Currently, women in Scotland who want a termination beyond 18-20 weeks for non-medical reasons, such as a delay in realising they are pregnant or due to a change in life circumstances, must travel to England to receive the procedure, with NHS Scotland covering the cost of referrals.

Although abortion is legal up to 24 weeks, so-called late-stage abortions are only carried out on the NHS in Scotland if they are required for urgent medical reasons such as the pregnancy putting the mother's life at risk or the baby suffering a fatal condition.

[continued at link]
Source: Herald Scotland