Scotland abortion figures reach record high

The variety of abortions in Scotland last yr reached a record high, prompting calls for the “urgent” reinstatement of in-person consultations before every abortion.

New statistics released by Public Health Scotland showed that there have been 18,207 abortions in 2023, a rise of 9.63% on the previous yr.  

The figures also showed a 29.2% increase since 2022 in abortions amongst girls aged 15 and younger, and a 35% increase in late-term abortions at 21 weeks gestation or later. Over a 3rd of abortions (39.92%) last yr were repeat abortions. 

There was a 4% increase within the variety of abortions of babies with a disability, from 274 in 2022 to 285 in 2023. Of these, 49 babies had Down’s syndrome.

Right to Life UK has attributed the increases to the introduction of at-home abortions through the pandemic, when the law was modified to permit each abortion pills to be taken at home after an e-consultation.

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said that self-administered abortions were putting women’s health in danger.

“It is an important tragedy that 18,207 lives were lost to abortion in Scotland last yr, the very best number on record,” she said. 

“Every one in every of these abortions represents a failure of our society to guard the lives of babies within the womb and a failure to supply full support to women with unplanned pregnancies.” 

She said that the reinstatement of in-person appointments would protect women and forestall tragedies just like the case of Carla Foster who aborted her baby between 32 and 34 weeks after obtaining tablets for an at-home abortion well beyond the legal 10 week limit.  

“Polling shows that 71% of girls support the reinstatement of in-person appointments and only 9% are in favour of the established order,” said Robinson. 

“We are calling on the Scottish Government to urgently reinstate in-person consultation for home abortions.”