California Legislators Approve Bill to Protect Abortion Pill Prescription Privacy

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In California, a recently passed bill will enable those who prescribe abortion pills to withhold all identifying information – including their names, the pharmacies, and patients’ names – from the pill bottle labels. The legislation, known as AB 260, is designed to protect abortionists from potential legal action due to mailing abortion pills into states where abortion is restricted. Critics claim this bill lacks safeguards to prevent abuse or misuse, such as forcing unsuspecting women into having abortions. Waiting for its fate, the bill has been passed onto Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until October 12 to either sign or veto the bill.

California Assembly Bill 260 passed the state’s Senate on September 9 and Assembly on September 10. Proposed to protect abortionists who distribute pills into states with restrictive abortion laws, the bill permits abortionists to leave their name and other identifying information off the pill bottle. Pointing to the flaws of the bill, it has been noted that lack of accountability could lead drugs into wrong hands and risk patient misuse.

It should be noted that California is not the pioneer in passing such legislation; New York and Massachusetts have already passed similar laws. But California is the first to attempt removing all identifying data from abortion pill labels, which has raised concerns due to the very risky nature of the drug. Such anonymity makes it easy for these drugs to land in wrong hands.

Although the prescribing pharmacy is mandated to maintain a record with the patient’s name and other relevant information, the abortion pill bottle itself will lack even the patient’s name. The pharmacy’s record can only be accessed by law enforcement with a subpoena, and the interstate disclosure of this information will be prohibited. There are no safeguards in this legislation against misuse or abuse.

The perils of unchecked distribution have already come to light, with reports of abusive men ordering abortion pills to force unwilling or unwitting pregnant women into having abortions. This has led critics to label California’s legislation as “almost horrifying”. They also fear that the new law will do more to protect abortionists who earn profits from the death of unborn children and less for the protection of women. This news is sourced from Live Action News.