**Paramedic Admits Covertly Administering Abortion Drug Leading to Woman’s Miscarriage**
A senior paramedic from Edinburgh has pleaded guilty to a string of serious offences after secretly administering an abortion drug to a woman he had impregnated, resulting in the loss of her unborn child. The alarming case has raised fresh concerns over abuse of trust in the healthcare profession and highlighted the devastating impact of drug misuse in intimate relationships.
Stephen Doohan, aged 33, formerly a Clinical Team Leader at the Scottish Ambulance Service, confessed at the High Court in Glasgow to assault, sexual assault, and inducing an abortion without consent. The woman at the centre of the case had informed Doohan of her pregnancy in early 2023, not knowing he was already married at the time of their relationship. Originally from Kirkliston, near Edinburgh, Doohan was bailed ahead of sentencing, though the presiding judge made plain a significant custodial sentence was inevitable.
The court heard that the pair had met on holiday in Spain in 2021 before remaining in contact. By March 2023, after a period of separation from his wife, Doohan and the woman entered into a consensual encounter at his flat in the upmarket Grange area of Edinburgh. Unbeknownst to her, Doohan prepared a syringe, having crushed up pills containing the abortion drug misoprostol—the same type used medically for managing miscarriage or terminating pregnancy.
Without her knowledge or consent, Doohan administered the drug to the woman while she was lying on his bed. Days later, he gave her a further dose. It was not until she experienced alarming symptoms—such as dizziness and fainting spells—that the reality began to unfold. She subsequently suffered a miscarriage, deeply affecting her both physically and emotionally.
Legal proceedings revealed a harrowing sequence of deception and manipulation. Shortly after administering the drug, Doohan attempted to cover his actions by offering the woman diazepam, allegedly to alleviate her discomfort. She drifted into a profound sleep, only to awaken to Doohan initiating sexual contact—raising her suspicions further. While Doohan was briefly out of the room, she discovered a syringe containing remnants of crushed tablets and two distinctive white, star-shaped pills hidden under the mattress.
A quick internet search confirmed her fears, as the images of the found items matched the common appearance of abortion medication. When confronted, at first Doohan denied any involvement, but he soon broke down, admitting partial guilt and attempting to argue about the dosage’s effectiveness.
Despite trying to appease her with expensive gifts, including perfume, football tickets, and money for a hair appointment, Doohan also urged her not to report the incident, fearing for his career and liberty. Notably, he rehearsed a false explanation for the hospital staff with her, instructing her to claim the drugs were sourced from “a friend of a friend.” Nevertheless, spurred on by friends and her own growing doubts, the woman reported his actions to the authorities—armed with several incriminating messages and a secretly-recorded confession.
Prosecutors described how digital evidence showed Doohan researching abortion systematically after learning of the pregnancy, pointing to premeditation in the act. A formal investigation by Police Scotland followed her complaint to the Scottish Ambulance Service, and Doohan was subsequently arrested. The misoprostol in question was found to have been illicitly obtained, further aggravating the case, though a specific theft charge was ultimately not pursued.
In a statement to the court, Doohan’s legal representative, Mark Stewart KC, explained his client’s “distress and remorse,” suggesting mental health factors had clouded his judgement. Nevertheless, his plea was rejected for leniency, with the court prioritising the severity and premeditated nature of the offence. The judge remarked that the offences were “appalling” and made clear that a lengthy prison sentence would be forthcoming.
The case has shocked not only colleagues within the Scottish Ambulance Service but also the wider community, raising unavoidable questions about professional boundaries and the safeguards in place to prevent such abuses of power. The woman, it was heard, remains significantly affected by the trauma she endured.
Stephen Doohan is scheduled to be sentenced next month and has been placed on the sex offenders register. The case stands as a stark warning of the destructive consequences when trust is betrayed, and highlights the pressing need for vigilance in reporting and investigating cases of intimate partner violence and health-related misconduct.