Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 November 2023 (HC527), whether they intend to publish an updated version of the Department for Health and Social Care guidance on completing the EMA1 abortion form or similar certificate, to reflect the fact that the good faith opinion of the medical practitioner as to the patients’ gestation period can no longer be relied upon if an in-person consultation has not taken place.

There are no plans to publish an updated version of the Department’s guidance on completing the EMA1 abortion form, or a similar certificate, before early medical abortion pills are prescribed for use in a pregnant woman’s home.

In line with the guidance, the EMA1 form, or a similar certificate, must be completed by the registered medical practitioner terminating the pregnancy. This is to certify their opinion, formed in good faith, that if the medicine prescribed for the termination of the pregnancy is self-administered in accordance with their instructions, the pregnancy will not exceed 10 weeks at the time when the first pill, mifepristone, is taken.

This opinion can be formed either via a teleconsultation, or at an in-person appointment. Most women can determine the duration of their pregnancy with reasonable accuracy from the first day of their last menstrual period alone. However, if there is any uncertainty about the gestation of the pregnancy, the medical practitioner will ask the woman to attend an in-person appointment to enable them to form an opinion, in good faith, that the pregnancy will not have exceeded 10 weeks at the time that the first pill is taken.