Risky Business The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Abortions

The abortion industry brazenly promotes abortioninducing drugs as “DIY abortions.” They want to convince women that these abortions are safe, easy, and nearly painless. They want to expand telemedicine to distribute more abortion pills faster so providers can dispense these drugs en masse, then sit back to enjoy the profits –leaving women to fend for themselves. Women have died as a result of the dangerous side effects involved, which include severe infection, heavy bleeding, and temporary or permanent loss of fertility. In short, chemical abortion shifts all risk to the woman; and she’s usually alone.

House Bill 3 Passed in 2022

NO MAIL ORDER ABORTIONS IN KENTUCKY!

In 2022, Kentucky passed House Bill 3, the Humanity in Healthcare Act, an omnibus bill with six pro-life bills in one. In an attempt to head off the risky business of doit-yourself abortions, and in anticipation of the expected FDA modifications, the Kentucky General Assembly created a new section of law outlawing the mailing of chemical abortion medications in the state of Kentucky. Additionally, the new law on chemical abortions requires the physician who wishes to prescribe these medications to register with the state as a non-surgical abortion provider.

By law, the physician is required to see the patient, examine her to determine the gestational weeks of pregnancy, Rh factor, and any other possible medical risks before prescribing the medication.

In Kentucky, only a physician may prescribe chemical fetal-life-termination-inducing medication, and it must be dispensed by a pharmacy certified by the manufacturer of these medications. The pharmacy is also required to be registered with the state of Kentucky as a dispensing pharmacy, and confirm their certification by the manufacturer. For the past five years, Kentucky had already required a physician prescribing and dispensing these medications to report on a form specifically designed by vital statistics. The 2022 legislation updated the form, which is now online for the physician and pharmacies to use.

We currently have laws in place to restrict mail-order abortions in Kentucky, as well as all abortions. One of these laws is currently before the Kentucky Supreme Court. Should the Supreme Court of Kentucky rule unfavorably and create a right to abortion that is not in the Kentucky Constitution, this could allow abortions to begin again in Kentucky.

The Current Administration in DC and the FDA Continue to Cater to the Abortion Industry

On Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated labeling for mifepristone (generic for Mifeprex) that would allow pharmacies to dispense the drug.

Unfortunately, both CVS and Walgreens – and now Rite Aid – have stated that they will sell the drug in select pharmacies, which would place women at greater risk than ever before.

“Mifepristone takes the life of an unborn baby and places her mother at risk of death,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “In no way can that be considered health care.”

Mifepristone is used in combination with misoprostol, a prostaglandin, to cause an abortion. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, causing the death of the unborn baby, while the second drug, misoprostol, causes powerful, painful uterine contractions to expel the dead or dying baby.

Mifepristone is used to kill babies up to 10 weeks gestation.

“More than two dozen deaths and thousands of complications are associated with the use of these drugs,” said Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., director of education and research for National Right to Life. “These ‘adverse events’ on record with the FDA include serious infections, severe hemorrhaging, and the rupture of previously undiscovered ectopic pregnancies.”

The FDA’s revised Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for Mifeprex would require that the drug be dispensed only by pharmacies that have completed certification. Such certified pharmacies could dispense the drug only when prescribed by certified prescribers who have pledged to follow FDA guidelines regarding the screening and counseling of patients to ensure they know the risks and dangers.

“Retail pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid should consider whether it is a sound business risk to be selling dangerous abortion pills that can put women in the hospital,” said Scott Fischbach, National Right to Life’s Executive Director. “Their customers will not be happy to find out that their local drugstore where they get their life-saving medicines is now stocking and distributing pills for the purpose of killing unborn children in their community.” NRLC will continue to work to protect unborn children and their mothers.

Kentucky Right to Life is an Affiliate of National Right to Life, and we ask you to please visit the website to the right and sign the petition to CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.