Ex - Ante Evaluation; Abortion Case Study (Cultural Strategies of Agenda Denial)

Question 1

Who are the evaluators in this case study? / the ones disagreeing with the government

Answer 1

The medical profession, public policy scholars and experts

Question 2

How many pills do you take to have an abortion?
Name the second pill that induces the abortion?
Where can you take the second pill?

Answer 2

Two
Misoprostal
It is safe for home administration; should take place within ones home.

Question 3

What is the only part of the UK that offers women the opportunity to take it home when clinically appropriate?
When did this legislative change happen?

Answer 3

Scotland, as of this year

Question 4

Across England, Scotland and Wales, when do most abortions take place?
And by what means?

Answer 4

Take place before 12 weeks with use of drugs to induce miscarriage

Question 5

Under current legislation what are the clauses for taking the pills?
(Two parts of the clause)
Which part of the clause are we focusing on.

Answer 5

Must take the pills - with consent of two medical practitioners- inside a hospital or licensed clinic (ones that have been approved by health Secretary of State)

Question 6

What has the health Secretary of State not approved as a legal place to take the pills ?

Answer 6

Not legal to take misoprostal at home, must be in licences clinic or hospital

Question 7

Women do not have the right to an abortion but can be…

Answer 7

Granted one of two doctors agree, not inherent right to abortion.

Question 8

Doctors are the … of abortion

Answer 8

Gatekeepers

Question 9

What happens at the moment in regards to the women having the abortion (think of both pills)

Answer 9

Woman has to attend hospital or abortion clinic to be administered the first pill and then two to three days later, go back to the hospital to take misoprostal which will then induce miscarriage.

Question 10

By having to go back to hospital to be administered misoprostal, what has unfortunately occurred?

Answer 10

Misoprostal starts inducing miscarriage, so known for miscarriages to start commencing on public transport on way home from hospital.

Question 11

The legislation on having to take both pills in hospital or clinic is outdated because it takes no account of what…?

Answer 11

Medical advances in the field; it is now clinically safe for home administration in most cases

Question 12

When the government granted the responsibility of abortions to the doctors in 1967, Act, it became …
And is part of health policy

Answer 12

Medicalised

Question 13

As they put it in the health policy sphere, what is it governments responsibility to do?

Answer 13

You have to take account of all developments in clinical field, and ensure that legislation is updated with this.

Question 14

What does evidence now show about taking misoprostal?

Answer 14

It is now safe at home.

Question 15

The flexibility in Scotland will now benefit women who struggle to access healthcare services for a range of reasons … name two

Answer 15

Domestic abuse sufferers, those who have children and have to arrange childcare and time for work.

Question 16

What does the current legislation punish?

What type of bias is there?

Answer 16

The current legislation punishes the poor, social bias.

Question 17

If you got rid of the two doctors permission, it would effectively …

Answer 17

Decriminalise abortion

Question 18

The fact that abortion is so heavily a moral and social issue. What does this lead to in terms of evaluations?

Answer 18

It shows that it is so heavily a moral, social issue by some that because of that you don’t get quality evaluation.

Question 19

What act made abortion medicalised?

Answer 19

The 1967 Act made abortion medicalised, part of health policy sphere.

Question 20

argue that if you put abortion in health policy sphere, then you need to ?

Answer 20

take account of all developments in the clinical field.

Question 21

With cancer, you take advice from scientific evidence and impose new regimes/ legislation, should it be different for abortions?

Answer 21

No, it shouldn’t be. If it’s part of health care domain, than look at the evidence and update legislation as so.

Question 22

We have seen massive constraints on what in this field?
specifically what part
(hint; location)

Answer 22

policy evaluation, specifically around definition of places for treatment.

Question 23

What constrains policy evaluation on abortions?

Answer 23

The fact that this is such a social and moral issue.

Question 24

What are the two drugs involved in the abortion ‘pill’

Answer 24

Mifepristone and misoprostal

Question 25

What is mifepristone function prior to nine weeks?

Answer 25

It is also a morning after pill.

Question 26

What has the secretary state for health not said about a women’s home?
Even though…

Answer 26

It is not a premise under the terms of the act. Even though it is clinically safe to take the abortion at home.

Question 27

The current legislation disproportionately affects those from a ….. ….. background?

Answer 27

lower socioeconomic background.

Question 28

Do all medical professions say it’s fine to take the misoprostol at home?

Answer 28

yes, clinically safe and fine.

Question 29

Are the government listening to the fact that its safe to take misoprostal at home?

Answer 29

No, they have not updated the legislature, have not included the home as a approved premise to have an abortion.

Question 30

misoprostal and …?

Answer 30

mifepristone

Question 31

Who took the secretary of state for health to court?

Answer 31

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Question 32

What did the court say about the approval of home administration of misoprostol?

Answer 32

They said it should be legal to take abortion home, clinical evidence good, but ultimately secretary of state for health to decide whether or not.

Question 33

When did the court case happen?

Answer 33

2011

Question 34

Why? There is a political aspect to evaluation.

Answer 34

Divisive issue still; At the moment, the doctors look after it, this ensures women remain quiet, go to the doctor about it and don’t challenge it.

Question 35

What is ensuring that women remain quiet?

Answer 35

The fact that they have to go to doctors.

Question 36

What do politicians realise if women know about their lack of rights?

Answer 36

More will enter into discussion, advocate into rights.

Question 37

If more women enter into the discussion, challenging current act, what could this lead to?
(hint; countries).

Answer 37

polarised divisive nature that you have in Ireland and USA

Question 38

If they have a vote on it? what will that lead to ?

Answer 38

abortion and debates about abortion will come to forefront of the agenda.

Question 39

Will population all agree on letting home administration?

Answer 39

No, significant part won’t and significant part will, too costly and no win situation.