A UK woman who was jailed for illegally procuring her own abortion during the later stages of pregnancy has had her sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal, leading to her imminent release. Carla Foster, 45, was initially handed a 28-month jail term after admitting to obtaining abortion tablets unlawfully. However, three judges at London’s Court of Appeal revised her sentence to a 14-month suspended prison term, allowing her release with the condition that she adheres to the requirements set by the court.
The case drew significant attention and sparked widespread protests throughout London, with demonstrators demanding the decriminalization of abortion. Thousands of individuals marched in support of Foster, chanting slogans such as “Free Carla Foster” and holding signs advocating for reproductive rights and the autonomy of individuals over their bodies.
Under the current law, which has been in place for 162 years, abortion is legal for up to 24 weeks in England, Scotland, and Wales. After this limit, there are strict regulations in place, permitting abortions only in limited circumstances, such as when the mother’s life is at risk or if there is a risk of severe disability for the child.
Foster’s case involved her obtaining abortion-causing drugs from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) through a remote consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in May 2020. She gave birth following the ingestion of the drugs, but the child was pronounced dead after an emergency call to the authorities.
The sentence handed down to Foster by the lower court received criticism from BPAS, with the organisation’s chief executive, Clare Murphy, expressing shock and appalled. Murphy described the 19th-century law used to prosecute Foster and others as imposing the “harshest penalty in the world.”
During the appeal proceedings, Judge Victoria Sharp acknowledged the gravity of the case and emphasised the need for compassion rather than punishment. The revised sentence aims to strike a balance between recognising the seriousness of the offence and taking into account the unique circumstances surrounding Foster’s actions.
