Doctors will not have to report it to the police if a woman needs treatment after using abortion pills obtained illegally.

The safeguard was added to the Abortion Reform Bill on Tuesday.

Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) tabled an amendment to ensure there was nothing to oblige a practitioner or pharmacist to report the matter to the police if a woman, who obtained abortion pills - or any other abortion service - illegally, subsequently sought medical treatment.

The original Bill made it illegal to sell abortion pills over the internet or to provide services in any situation not covered by the proposed legislation. But it exempted the pregnant woman from prosecution. Mr Hooper said his amendment became necessary because that exemption had been removed by an earlier amendment, approved during a previous sitting.

’My concern with this is, whatever we put in place, there will inevitably be people who feel they cannot access [abortion] services legally, for whatever reason,’ said Mr Hooper.

He said a woman could be in an abusive relationship, or facing cultural pressure, which could make her feel that obtaining pills illegally was the better option.

Consequently, if they feared prosecution, it could prevent them from seeking medical help after the event, even in an emergency.

’If something goes wrong, they have to feel safe, that they can go to a doctor, they can go to accident and emergency, and feel 100% safe that they can get medical treatment without being reported to the police.’

Members approved Mr Hooper’s amendment.