Britain’s Department of Health May Allow Private Doctors to Provide Medical Abortion Care

Britain’s Department of Health confirmed this week that they are conducting trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of providing early medical abortion care in private doctors’ offices.

Under current regulations, abortions can only be provided at National Health Service hospitals and specialist clinics and require the approval of two doctors. Earlier this year, a House of Commons committee found women were experiencing unnecessary delays in obtaining abortion care and called for easier access. The committee also recommended the current law be liberalized to do away with the two doctors’ signatures rule. The committee evaluation is expected to be completed in early 2008.