The High Court in London was due to make ruling last month on whether it is legal for a woman to carry out a self-administered abortion at home. To date, any medication taken by a patient had to be administered under controlled conditions in a clinic. This has been criticised as denying a woman to decide for herself what environmental conditions are acceptable.

The problem arises with the separation in time between given medication and when the actual abortion takes place. This, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) says causes too much anxiety for all concerned.

The ruling being asked for by supporters of a change in the law is for women to administer the second dose of medication at home, in a safe and secure environment, surrounded by a loving family. This is already allowed in a number of countries such as Sweden, France and the USA.

The argument however is being opposed by the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) which argues that the BPAS are trying to bypass a clear statute that states exactly where abortions can to take place. They cite the 1967 Abortion Act which states:  “any treatment for the termination of pregnancy must be carried out by a registered medical practitioner.”

As for to the ruling itself, the BPAS lost its bid to change the law. However, the judge did say that the Health Secretary should have a wider power in this matter, something the BPAS welcomed. The High Court judge said: “the power to approve a wider range of place, including potentially the home, and the conditions on which such approval may be given relating to the particular medicine and the manner of its administration or use.”