Newly published research shows a rise in the use of remote consultations for women seeking abortions in Ireland despite an inability to detect dangerous contraindications such as ectopic pregnancy.

A previous report published in the Irish Medical Journal in 2024 revealed how a 24-year-old woman in Limerick, who had a pill-induced abortion, nearly died due to the presence of an undetected ectopic pregnancy.

19% of the GPs who participated in the new study in the BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health journal provided “fully remote consultations” for the first abortion consultation, and another 48% used a mixed model of remote and in-person meetings for the first of two consultations.

Among other things, the increased reliance on remote consultations doesn’t allow for ultrasound examination of the pregnant woman and her baby, leading to potential delays in detecting rare but very serious cases of ectopic pregnancy.

A spokesperson for the Pro-Life Campaign said the latest research suggests that fully remote consultations are taking place much more frequently than previously indicated.

“The risks this poses to women, as well as to their unborn babies, cannot be overstated”.