In a heated debate in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the Roe v Wade ruling, the British Medical Association (BMA) agreed to put pressure on the UK government over the issue. The statement came in response to the highly controversial move to end women’s legal right to abortion in the United States. Foreign patients can currently pay for abortions in the UK. Proposing the proposal on Wednesday, Marina Politi, a medical student, said: “Abortion is essential health care… [some] cases, the decision of the US Supreme Court is a death sentence. “In other, less risky pregnancies, this decision still deprives the individual of an essential right to choose what will happen to his body. “In a hostile environment, we have seen increased immigrant charges. “We must also provide safe abortion care to all nationals seeking it in the UK, without subjecting them to advance duties for patients abroad – and this must be true regardless of the borders across the US.” The proposal was approved with 57% of doctors voting in favor of the clause calling for the UK to offer free abortions to all nationalities, 36% against and 7% abstaining. Of the 80,000 women who receive abortions from the British Pregnancy Counseling Service each year, 4,000 are international patients. Women whose governments do not cover the cost will pay between 80 480 and 10 1,510 for the consultation and procedure, depending on the method and how many weeks pregnant she is, according to the Daily Telegraph. Speaking after the BMA’s annual representative meeting, Politi said she was “proud to see our profession committed to global reproductive rights”. “It is imperative that we show solidarity with the American Medical Association and our American colleagues,” he told the Guardian. “The vote on this proposal underscores that we do not support this dangerous breach of reproductive rights, which is also a breach of human rights. “It is imperative that the vote on this proposal is just the beginning and that this policy has now been implemented.” The members also agreed to publicly condemn the reversal of the Roe v Wade decision and to support American doctors who performed abortions. They called on the UK Government to “strengthen [its] own provision for abortion “. Dr Lisa Egbert, of the American Medical Association (AMA), said: “The AMA is grateful to the British Association for adding your voice in recognizing access to basic medical care as a fundamental human right.” Boris Johnson called the US court ruling “a step backwards”, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trindade, French President Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden also took part in the widespread condemnation among the world. US President Joe Biden called the move a “tragic mistake”.
