Premium
Abortion by telemedicine in the European Union
Author(s) -
Hervey Tamara,
Sheldon Sally
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12738
Subject(s) - abortion , european union , pill , telemedicine , free movement , accreditation , face (sociological concept) , political science , law , business , medicine , international trade , pregnancy , health care , nursing , sociology , social science , genetics , biology
This paper analyses an important set of legal issues raised by the telemedical provision of abortion pills. Focusing on the case of European Union ( EU ) law, it suggests that a properly accredited doctor seeking to treat a patient with abortion pills is entitled, in principle, to rely on EU rules of free movement to protect their access to patients in other member states, and women facing unwanted pregnancies likewise have legal rights to access the services thus offered. EU countries seeking to claim an exception to those rules on the basis of public health or the protection of a fundamental public policy interest (here, the protection of fetal life) will face significant barriers.