(Photo: Getty/iStock)A new study has found that remote consultations are becoming a routine part of early medical abortion services in the Republic of Ireland, prompting renewed debate over safety and regulation. Published in the ‘British Medical Journal (BMJ) Sexual & Reproductive Health’ journal, the research examined GPs’ use of remote consultations with women seeking abortions. Researchers concluded that remote consultations are now a “mainstream component” of abortion care rather than “an exceptional or emergency feature” as originally intended when they were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Researchers found no significant differences in the use of telemedicine based on where GPs were located, when they qualified, or how frequently they provided abortion services, suggesting remote consultations have been adopted consistently across participating practices. The organisation said the first appointment involves important elements of care, including eligibility screening and counselling, and argued that remote consultations limit the ability to carry out ultrasound examinations.