Let me be totally upfront: I support abortion. Fully. No apologies, no hesitation. Abortion is healthcare, and it should be treated like any other medical decision — with dignity, privacy, and respect.

But here in Scotland, most folk don’t realise that abortion isn’t actually legal. It’s still criminalised under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and only allowed in certain circumstances under the Abortion Act 1967. That means it’s not a right — it’s an exception. You still need the approval of two doctors, which feels more like asking permission than getting care. It also means that with the rise of the fascists in England we could see a restriction on abortion in general because they could take away that exception under the abortion act 1967.

Even though abortions are free on the NHS, there are massive barriers — especially if you’re working-class, live remotely, or are already facing challenges with your health or circumstances.

Here’s what’s actually happening on the ground:

  • If you live in the Highlands or on an island, it can be really hard to get an abortion. Some people need to take time off work, travel hundreds of miles, or even leave their island — just to access something that should be available close to home. In 2025, that’s outrageous.

  • Access is patchy depending on your NHS board. Not every area offers full services, and while medical abortion (with tablets) is now far more common, not everyone can access it early or at home. You might get seen quickly in some areas, but wait weeks in others.

  • We still don’t have buffer zones. The Scottish Parliament has passed the Safe Access Zones Bill in principle, but right now? Protesters can still stand outside clinics and harass people. It’s disgusting. No one should face judgement just for going to a healthcare appointment.

  • The two-doctor rule is outdated. It causes delays and reinforces stigma. No other treatment needs this kind of approval. It’s not about safety — it’s about control.

  • Poverty plays a huge role. People in the most deprived areas of Scotland are almost twice as likely to have an abortion as those in wealthier areas. But those same people are more likely to face extra barriers — cost of travel, less flexibility at work, and fewer childcare options.

And the stigma? Still very real. People still get judged, fobbed off, or shamed by professionals who ought to know better. That’s not care. That’s not respect.

Abortion is normal. It’s common. It’s needed. And it’s time we treated it that way.

Here’s what we need to fight for in Scotland:

  • Full decriminalisation of abortion
  • Safe zones outside clinics — without delay
  • Equal access no matter your postcode
  • Scrapping the two-doctor rule
  • Better local services** in rural and island communities
  • Proper funding, proper staffing, and proper respect

We can’t afford to be quiet. Abortion care in Scotland isn’t good enough, and people are suffering for it. If you care about fairness, healthcare, and human rights — now’s the time to speak up.

Support groups like Abortion Rights Scotland, write to your MSP, talk about it with your pals, and don’t let anyone tell you this isn’t your fight. It absolutely is.

Edit a comment:
There's a debate scheduled in Parliament (Westminster) on june 2nd to talk about decriminalising abortion. For what it's worth- you can write to your MP and tell them this is an important issue to you, that you want it raised in the Scottish Parliament as well. I've contacted mine! Like another comment was saying, there's a silent majority in favour and a vocal minority against, we have to start making noise as well.

Here's the link to the petition that's being debated:https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700014. I know it feels like they don't go anywhere but the more people make their opinions known to their representatives, the more it gets discussed as an ✨️important issue✨️ to voters, the more likely it is that things get changed.

Thank you commenter I've forgotten your name but you are in the comments

by adventures_in_dysl

44 comments

  1. Great information, I hadn’t known about the two doctors rule. Seriously?!

  2. If biological men could get pregnant this wouldn’t even be a conversation.

  3. My ex and I got an abortion in the 1990’s. I had no idea this was the case.

  4. Abortion should be healthcare, not something you have to ask permission for. It’s wild that people still don’t realize it’s technically criminalized. The fact that we still have to get approval from *two doctors* like we’re asking for a favor instead of essential care? Infuriating.

    We need to put real pressure on MSPs to get this sorted. Decriminalization **needs** to happen, and safe access zones should be enforced properly—no more delays. Groups like [**Abortion Rights Scotland** ](https://www.abortionrightsscotland.com/)are doing great work, but the more people speak up, the better.

    We shouldn’t have to fight for something that should just be a basic right.

  5. 200m for a safe zone is not enough. It should be a mile.

  6. I live in the Highlands, or an island, and I’ve known plenty of people who’ve had abortions – some have even had multiple.

    I don’t know how difficult it was for them. It’s not the kind of thing you ask, but I’ve never heard of it being a difficult thing

  7. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know this, really shocked to hear this is the case in 2025

  8. Been through this situation with a partner.
    It was very easy for us (north east) called
    Spoke to a doctor, went in. Got a scan, given the medications and helplines for aftercare.

    Off we went. No issues at all. One doctor on the phone and a nurse in person for a scan and information at a health clinic.

    (Not saying what you’ve said isn’t true)
    But certainly wasn’t our experience.

  9. Just to clarify, abortion clinic buffer zones have been in place and have been being enforced by the police since September last year. J D Vance incorrectly cited Scotland enforcing these zones as showing free speech no longer exists in Scotland.

    Also abortion is a medical procedure and so should be undertaken under medical supervision for the safety of the women herself, the decriminalisation of this would potentially remove this medical element would return to the horrific days of self abortion and unqualified “backstreet clinic and practitioners”.

    Agree with your observations surrounding the importance of equal access, proper funding for the NHS and tackling poverty inequalities as a whole, these are targets that should be met for all services and individuals and not just abortion.

  10. The buffer zones were made active on the 24th Sept 2024.

  11. Maybe I slipped through some net, but last year I had an abortion at 5 weeks and it was as simple as calling Sandyford, getting an ultrasound to ensure it didn’t have to be a hospital termination, then sent me away with a paper bag of meds and vague instructions. There was very little fuss, in fact shockingly little and no after care. I’m in Glasgow, and I know others that have had similar experiences. I know a girl who, for a time, just had abortions instead of birth control. Which I obviously don’t agree with. I get resources can be stretched in the Highlands, but where I am it doesn’t feel like a criminal act. It feels very nonchalant and commonplace based on my experience.

  12. Thanks for your amazing information. I suggest writing to your mp, msp, everyone. The problem is there is a silent majority on this but a very vocal minority. Get the word out, demand answers, demand change.

    Yes, I know it sounds like the naff option, but it’s way more effective than most other things.

  13. I don’t remember the specifics now, but a friend of mine had to travel to England because she was too far along to be seen in time in Scotland. They were meant to hide the ultrasound screen and turn the sound off, but they made sure she could see it and the sound was on. “Look at your BABY. Can you hear their HEARTBEAT?”

    The nurse knew exactly why she was there and did this on purpose. She was 19 and didn’t have anyone with her.

    I was horrified and disgusted when I found out. She didn’t want to tell anyone until it was over.

    Now, I’ve always been in favour of abortions – they are healthcare, not a moral issue – but now that I’ve been pregnant myself, with a very much wanted baby, I’m radicalised.

    My pregnancy wasn’t too bad overall, but even then, if I found myself pregnant and didn’t want to be, and I couldn’t end it, I don’t know what I’d do.

    I cannot stress the horror and terror of the mere idea of being pregnant and having no power to stop it.

    Any reason is good enough as far as I’m concerned. “I don’t want to be pregnant. I don’t want a baby.” That should be all that’s needed.

  14. I’m seeing more loopholes here than in a Sherlock Holmes plot. Where’s Watson when you need him to navigate through 19th-century laws?

  15. > The two-doctor rule is outdated. It causes delays and reinforces stigma. No other treatment needs this kind of approval.

    No, there’s other kinds of treatment with the 2 doctor rule. There’s a reason trans activist groups regularly show up at pro-abortion protests – we have the same fight!

  16. Damn here in England you can get an abortion from your GP same day lol 

  17. Rise of Fascism in England??? Okay I’ll bite. You think Farage the openly Thatcherite leader of Reform is a Mussolini tribute act?

  18. That two doctor thing is ridiculous, I had absolutely no idea. 

  19. Wait, seriously? I never knew this. What the fuck? I don’t necessarily agree with abortion, but I believe everyone should have the right to make that choice.

  20. Why does the larger pro choice group not simply eat the smaller pro life group?

  21. There’s a debate scheduled in Parliament (Westminster) on june 2nd to talk about decriminalising abortion. For what it’s worth- you can write to your MP and tell them this is an important issue to you, that you want it raised in the Scottish Parliament as well. I’ve contacted mine! Like another comment was saying, there’s a silent majority in favour and a vocal minority against, we have to start making noise as well.

  22. > If you live in the Highlands or on an island, it can be really hard to get an abortion.

    > Equal access no matter your postcode

    This is the same for a lot of other healthcare provided in secondary and tertiary centres in the Highlands and other remote areas. Care *will* be unequal and absolutely cannot be made to be on parity with the central belt. It is pure fantasy that you can set up a full tertiary hospital in Wick, Stornoway, Kirkwall, etc. There’s no manpower, money, logistics etc for it. You want to live in the Highlands? Great, just accept that your medical care may be better in some ways (easier access to GPs sometimes) but will often be worse just because the resources cannot and never will be available locally and you may need to travel or be transferred.

    Sorry to digress. Fully support everything else!

  23. I feel like the main issue in OPs post is lack of access in rural communities. But this is true for all healthcare, not just abortions, and is tricky to improve

  25. On paper it may be criminal in practice it’s as easy as ordering a coffee (almost) and no one’s going to get prosecuted for having an abortion in Scotland. There’s a lot of outdated laws which are not struck off because otherwise the legal establishment would do nothing but go over arcane laws removing them from the books. Yes in some places it’s maybe more difficult but Highlands and Islands, where there’s limited services but if you get your butt to a city it’s no problem 🤷🏻‍♂️

  27. Just a technicality – the 1861 Act does not apply to Scotland. There is (potentially) a common law offence of procuring a miscarriage but not sure if this has been used in recent times. The statutory offence does not exist north of the border.

  28. Some people act like they’ve been submerged in the primordial stew too long – stuck in the past, unable to evolve. They’re like crabs in a bucket, dragging everyone down with them. They don’t want progress or enlightenment; they want to keep us in the dark ages. As long as it benefits them, screw the rest. It’s all about control – always has been.

    I’ve had two abortions in Glasgow, nearly ten years ago. Both times I was treated with kindness and respect. At the Sandyford, the doctor ( I only ever saw one not sure if another one approved behind the scenes) listened, didn’t judge, and understood my circumstances. I had a scan, bloods taken, then couple days later went to the hospital. They made sure I was sure, gave me my first pill, and sent me home. The next day I was admitted, given the second medication, monitered, and discharged once I was safe. Not once did anyone make me feel ashamed. The hardest part was being alone both times. I can’t imagine how much worse it would’ve been if I’d have been treated badly on top of that.

    It breaks my heart that access/treatment is worse for others when things should be getting better. No one takes abortions lightly. Even when you know it’s the right decision, it’s still hard. You grieve, you feel guilt, and you wish things were different. What people need in that moment is support – not judgement.

    Religion and politics cause real suffering every day for living women, and children, and men – but somehow it’s abortion they obsess over. It’s not about protecting life; it’s about controlling people, especially women. And I’m scared for future generations. We’re supposed to be evolving but history keeps repeating. We have to do better.

    In the book Freakanomics it explains how the crime rate dropped in the U.S. in the 90’s partly because of the legalisation of abortion after Roe v. Wade. The idea was that many children who would have been born into difficult, unstable lives weren’t born at all, and so 20 years later, there were fewer young adults at high risk of commiting crime.
    It’s controversial, but it highlights something important; forcing people to carry pregnancies they can’t with doesn’t just hurt them – it can have massive ripple effects on society.

    Maybe if governments spent more time on creating a society worth bringing children into – by investing in better education, secure housing property healthcare, support for parents, and stable jobs – fewer people would feel that abortion is their safest or only choice. Most people don’t want to have abortions they want to feel safe, and supported, and able to provide a good life. But until that’s the reality, judging people for choosing abortion is cruel and hypocrytical. If we want fewer abortions, we need more compassion, more action, not more control.

  29. I fully support you and agree, but where in the highlands were you meaning? worked in sexual health in highland for a while and it should be straightforward?

  30. You are ending a human life, access to the service needs to be heavily controlled and regulated.

  31. Good post. Getting AI to write it certainly makes it read very nicely but it also sounds like AI wrote it. 

  33. Fully support abortion rights but don’t support decriminalisation. I think you have legal limits on what stage of pregnancy you can get an abortion for good reason – decriminalising would allow someone to get an abortion potentially up to the ninth month before birth when the baby is fully formed with no consequences. That just can’t be right. The 24 week limit we have in the UK is already the highest in Europe – in France it is 14 weeks and in Germany it is 12 weeks, for example.

    It is rightly treated differently from other healthcare because it involves a potential human life, and I think the two doctors sign off is necessary largely on mental health grounds – there is probably a case for saying two is too much and one doctor would be fine, but as you see in the replies to this thread it is largely a formality in practice. I would want someone to have all the facts before doing it so they don’t regret it.

  35. man said abortion is health care, if ur gonna talk about it at least be a man and admit what it really is, killing babies, a human life should never be dictated by the its creators circumstances at conception, fuck ur self

  36. You missed the number one *biggest* and most difficult part of accessing abortion care in Scotland. Late terms (20-24 weeks) are not able to be performed here. You have to go to England.

  37. Abortion is not a right of choice and should only be for medical reasons. Since a child can now survive at 24 weeks, the upper limit needs to be lowered. Those looking for abortion on demand need to practice birth control.

  38. I’m honestly surprised that given the prevalence of so many women’s advocacy groups in the media in recent weeks that they haven’t used that exposure to make this more well known. Oh… wait.

  39. Access to all healthcare resources will be dependent on your rurality and ultimately your decision on where to live. You’re very unlikely to receive life saving treatment for strokes or heart attacks if you are rural because they need to be given in a certain time frame.

    As said the 2 doctor rule is more to ensure this isn’t a rushed decision which will later lead to regret. It also ties in with the rules of mental capacity and informed decision making (i.e ensuring sound of mind) and their relevant legislations as understandably unwanted pregnancies can be a very stressful situation which can affect decision making.

    I’m also not sure if the offences against the person act 1837 abortion part is actually relevant to medical abortions. It states it’s for ‘unlawful’ administration of a poison or use of an instrument. The abortion act 1967 specifies when it is lawful to have an abortion. So the offences act against the person act only applies if someone does an abortion themselves without seeking medical attention. Given the risk of any medical treatment I think this law is understandable.

    Finally the discussion of medical abortion without scanning has been discussed a lot during COVID when there was reduced face to face capacity for scans. It increases the risk of medical abortion as it may not be done at the appropriate gestational age. Again this is a safety design rather than designed only to be a barrier. Telemedicine paths were made to try reduce barriers and became a lot more prevalent because of the restrictions but some of the doctors working in sexual health are worried of the increased legal risk they are exposed to if they prescribe without the ultrasound.

  41. It’s an economic argument, not a public policy one.

    I think you’ve just identified a business opportunity for yourself.

  43. We abort almost 1 in 3 pregnancies already how many more do you want?

  44. Never had a problem but I can imagine it being an issue in the Highlands due to religion and remoteness.

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