Study: ‘Internet abortions’ may be option where procedure restricted

Five years ago, the tragic case of a young woman in Ireland made headlines around the world. Savita Halappanavar had been 17 weeks pregnant when she entered a hospital in pain. Doctors told her miscarriage was “inevitable.” But they also said she had to continue to carry the baby because of the country’s abortion ban. Her condition deteriorated, and she died within a week of an infection.

Halappanavar’s death sparked numerous protests, investigations and soul-searching. Ireland still is among the strictest countries in the world regarding abortion law. But a study published in the BMJ on Tuesday details how some women can get around the restrictions — through telemedicine.

Researchers looked at data from Women on Web (WoW), a nonprofit group that provides an online consultation service for women who live in countries where abortion is restricted. Its doctors review the information a woman gives about her pregnancy and provide prescriptions for medical-abortion pills such as mifepristone or misoprostol. A third-party company fills the prescription and sends the pills in the mail.

WoW specialists offer support during and after the abortion process. The service is available for up to 10 weeks’ gestation.

The study sample involved 1,000 women in the Republic of Ireland, where Halappanavar lived, and in Northern Ireland, which has a similar position on abortion although the region is part of the United Kingdom. Between 2010 and 2012, nearly 95 percent of the women reported during follow-up contacts that they ended their pregnancy without surgical intervention.

The rate of complications was similar to that of women using the abortion pill with the help of doctors in face-to-face office settings in countries were abortion is less restricted, the study found. Still, there were problems. Ninety-three women were referred for further treatment by local doctors because of symptoms, seven needed a blood transfusion, and 26 had to get antibiotics.