A 33-year-old Scottish paramedic, Stephen Doohan, has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison after pleading guilty to secretly giving an abortion-inducing substance to a woman who was pregnant with his child.
The case, which has drawn widespread attention, centered on a disturbing incident that took place in March 2023. Prosecutors said Doohan, who was married at the time, had maintained a long-distance relationship with a woman he met during a 2021 vacation in Ibiza. The two had agreed to continue the relationship after the woman learned she was pregnant.
During a visit to Edinburgh to see Doohan, the woman reported feeling something hard inserted into her during intercourse, followed by the appearance of a white substance the next day. Later that night, she awoke to Doohan allegedly inserting something else into her while she was half-asleep. Suspicious, she searched the room and discovered a syringe containing crushed tablets hidden under the mattress.
The woman sought medical attention the following day and was informed she had suffered a miscarriage. Investigators later determined that Doohan had administered a medication intended to induce abortion without the woman’s knowledge or consent.
Doohan, who previously appeared on a BBC program showcasing emergency medical responders, was arrested and charged. He ultimately pled guilty to procuring an abortion, a serious offense under Scottish law.
At sentencing, the judge condemned Doohan’s actions as “a grave betrayal of trust” and emphasized the premeditated and deceptive nature of the crime.
The case has sparked renewed conversations about reproductive rights, consent, and the legal consequences of coercive or deceptive behavior related to pregnancy termination.
Doohan will serve his sentence in a Scottish prison. The victim, whose identity has been protected, is reportedly receiving support and counseling.
