In August, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent regulator of health and social care services – instigated the suspension of all surgical abortions, and all medical abortions to young women and those with learning impairments, at Marie Stopes abortion facilities. When this happened, serious issues involving staff training and competence were vaguely mentioned, with an ominous reference to “issues of consent”. The full reality, as it now turns out, was worse than some of us even imagined.