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Press Releases
5 Live investigation uncovers evidence of backstreet abortions in UK
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An undercover investigation for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live has uncovered evidence
of illegal backstreet abortions, 40 years after abortion in the UK
was legalised.
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Leading gynaecologist John Parsons has warned of an inevitable increase
in illegal abortion activity because of the availability of drugs on the
black market.
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A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ undercover reporter, posing as a pregnant illegal immigrant, was
sold Chinese herbs to induce an abortion, followed by the pill
mifepristone, also known as RU486.
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These illegal abortion drugs were
supplied by Chinese practitioners at the Shanghai Herbal and Acupuncture
Centre in Dalston.
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RU486 is a prescription-only drug and should only be taken under
supervision of a medical professional.
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The undercover reporter was told to take Β£100 worth of pills, if
a herbal mixture did not work.
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The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has spoken to health care professionals and community workers
who said they came across women who admitted using alternative ways of
terminating their pregnancies.
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A doctor in Manchester said he treated a
patient who came to his clinic suffering from extensive bleeding after
using Chinese herbs to abort a foetus.
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The Shanghai Herbal and Acupuncture Centre in Dalston was unavailable
for comment.
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The programme has discovered that women in Britain are seeking back
street abortions for a variety of reasons, from teenagers who do not
trust the confidentiality of their family doctors through to illegal
immigrants who are not covered by the NHS.
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For many a private abortion,
which can cost up to Β£1,500, is not an option.
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But the 5 Live Report uncovered evidence of the drug Misoprostol,
commonly known as Cytotec, being sold without prescription for as little
as Β£30.
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In a secretly recorded meeting, a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reporter was sold 14 tablets,
which a Polish dealer claimed to have smuggled from Turkey.
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It is illegal both to sell prescription drugs or to aid an abortion
without a licence.
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The 5 Live Report also found RU486 being sold over the internet, which
the programme bought for Β£40.
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Official figures show that between 2001 and 2005 there were 10
prosecutions for procuring an illegal abortion in England and Wales but
the secretive nature of the problem means it is difficult to establish
how widespread it is.
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The Department of Health said: "We have no evidence that illegal
abortions are being performed.
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"Any suspected breaches of medicines legislation are investigated and,
where appropriate, enforcement action is taken against suppliers who
operate outside the legal requirements."
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5 Live Report: Britain's Backstreet Abortions can be heard at 11.30am on
the Rachel Burden programme on Radio 5 Live on Sunday 25 November 2007.
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5 Live Publicity
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