Ms Marie O'Shea:

As regards the psychological effect on the women who attend for these services, there are peer-reviewed papers and I think it was the UnPAC study that found that it had a detrimental effect in that they could not be trusted to make a decision. There is also the point of view that GPs are under a lot of pressure. If the person is sure about their decision on the first occasion, why do they need to come back for a second visit? The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, which has now been commenced, refers to people on the presumption that they have capacity to make a decision. I was at the START conference, where I talked to a great many GPs who were all of a view that this is a holistic type of care and is not care that is aimed at giving somebody abortifacient medication. The first consultation lasts 45 minutes. It is a matter of discussing with patients and making sure they have considered their decision before they come back on the next occasion.

If it were removed, the model of care is not going to change. As I said in the report, people would be told that they have a statutory right to reflect and even that, on reflection, may be something that is quite patronising. Perhaps it does not have to be read out to them like that. Perhaps it is a statutory obligation on healthcare professionals to outline what the model of service is, and that they do not have to proceed on the first occasion whether that is because they have any doubts or the time taking the abortifacient medication, and managing the termination of pregnancy, would not be the most convenient time for them, and they have until such and such a date to do that. I think that would protect people.