§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What practical arrangements have been made to deal with the disposal of foetal remains where 13WA abortion is caused by the use of the abortion drug mifepristone and occurs at a place other than a registered medical establishment. [HL5856]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath):Abortions using mifepristone accounted for 12 per cent of abortions performed on residents of England and Wales in 2001. For the large majority of these, expulsion of the foetus will have occurred in a National Health Service hospital or approved independent sector place.
In a small number of NHS hospitals and independent sector clinics, women are offered the choice of being in the privacy of their own home for the expulsion if they are well enough, have not got far to travel and are accompanied. This is only after having the necessary drugs administered at the hospital or clinic and only for gestations of nine weeks and under. If a woman decides that this is her preferred option, she receives full advice on what to expect and a 24-hour telephone number to call for further advice if needed. Women may choose whether they wish to arrange for the disposal of the foetal remains themselves or return the remains to the hospital for incineration or cremation.
A wide-ranging review of the law concerning human tissue is under-way and this will help us decide on any new legislation or guidance that may be needed. The Department of Health issued a consultation document on the law on the retention and use of human organs and tissue Human Bodies, Human Choices on 10 July. This consultation document also sought views on the arrangements for disposal of foetuses and foetal tissue. The consultation ended on 14 October.