APS is front and centre in the media, being asked for comment in the news again. Unfortunately, it is a tragic case.
What Happened
You may now have heard that Carla Foster has been sentenced to 28 months for using abortion pills to end the life of her unborn child, an 8 month old girl named Lily.
Ms Foster claimed to be 7 weeks pregnant and received abortion pills, which she used to end Lily’s life. When she went into labour paramedics were called, but unfortunately the attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.
As an organisation, we are deeply saddened by the death of Lily, and the circumstances that led her mother Carla to take these abortion pills when she was 8 months pregnant, 2 months beyond the 24 week limit for abortion, and over 20 weeks beyond the limit for these pills by post.
Madeline, CEO of APS, comments on BBC Radio 4
Pills By Post At Fault
Almost every mainstream news outlet has missed the real issue here: pills by post.
It’s outrageous that BPAS is not under more scrutiny for failing Carla and her child so badly. The ‘pills by post scheme’, which BPAS lobbied for and has championed over the last few years, is clearly failing women. There were no checks for gestational age, no in-person appointments, nothing at all to safeguard Carla – who was clearly distressed in her pregnancy. We know that taking these pills beyond the recommended 10 week period increases the danger for the woman who takes the pill, as well as harming her unborn child.
“The sentence ultimately lands at the feet of BPAS”
But APS is speaking out. Our CEO Madeline Page has been repeatedly challenging this dangerous service in her interviews for more than 6 outlets today including BBC, LBC and Times Radio.
Madeline had this to say on Radio 4 (see link video above for the full clip):
“The sentence ultimately lands at the feet of BPAS” […] they “lobbied for a change during the COVID restrictions meaning women were able to obtain pills by post without being seen in person. This is what has enabled a mother to obtain pills when she should have been pre 10 weeks but she was actually 8 months pregnant with her baby Lily […] BPAS haven’t even been looked at.”
BPAS continues to lobby for a change. They lobbied for this to be maintained after the restrictions were lifted. And now they are using this as a reason to want abortion until birth.
Due to BPAS’ lack of care towards Carla, she now is living with the guilt of what she has done, and having “nightmares and flashbacks to [her] dead child’s face”. We need to revisit the Pills by Post scheme, and make sure that no more women are harmed by it, and that abortion providers are properly held to account for allowing this kind of thing to happen.
Why We Matter
The BBC, The Guardian, The Times, Labour MPs and Conservative MPs are all using Lily’s case to call for decriminalising abortion – which could mean abortion until birth.
APS is one of the minority of voices speaking up for Lily and against the true culprits. It’s outrageous that our DIY abortion law is not under more scrutiny for failing Carla and her child so badly. We believe we need to revisit the Pills by Post scheme – not increase the abortion limits – to make sure that no more women are harmed by it, and that abortion providers are properly held to account for enabling this kind of thing to happen.
We join with other pro-life organisations – and anyone with common sense – in calling for the reinstatement of in-person appointments for pregnant women who are seeking abortion.
Lily deserved better than abortion – and so did her mother.
