Early Medical Abortion, Equality of Access, and the Telemedical Imperative [Paperback]

This book examines early medical abortion provided by telemedicine, alongside the access barriers created by laws in the US and UK. It critically appraises a series of developments in this rapidly evolving subject providing an up to date and well-informed analysis.Telemedicine has recently become a key focus of healthcare systems globally, heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased need for remote care pathways. Implementing telemedicine can bring myriad benefits for both patients and providers, and has the potential to make a huge impact by improving access to abortion care.In both the United Kingdom and United States, abortion is heavily regulatedexceptionally so when compared to other routine healthcare. This regulation has had the impact of exacerbating the social and geographical circumstances that can make access to abortion services difficult.This book examines telemedical provision of early medical abortion, alongside the access barriers created by laws in the United Kingdom and United States. It critically appraises a series of developments in this rapidly evolving subject, providing an up-to-date and well-informed analysis. In doing so, it argues that there is a moral imperative to introduce, retain, or reinstate (as applicable) telemedical early medical abortion.Introduction1. Understanding Early Medical Abortion2. Abortion exceptionalism and the law in the United Kingdom and United States3. Socio-legal barriers to early medical abortion4. Piecemeal progression and home use of misoprostol in the United Kingdom5. Early medical abortion and the telemedical imperative6. A telemedical continuum for early medical abortion 1837. The necessity of telemedical abortion during a pandemic8. The legal and policy response to abortion care in the United Kingdom during COVID-199. Legal and policy restrictions on telemedical early medical abortion in the United States during COVID-19ConclusionAppendix - United Kingdom chronologyAppendix - United Statel³y