Attorneys General demand FDA to restore abortion pill protections”

Share this article: You can share it on Facebook or Twitter, or choose to Print it.

To facilitate sharing, we use a script that sets Facebook and Twitter share URLs on page load.

Denoting a recent development on a contentious issue, a group of 22 attorneys general have proposed to the FDA that safety regulations on abortion pills, which have been gradually slackened lately, should be reinstalled. This plea is supported by their belief that previous protocols would be safer for women.

A coalition of 22 Republican attorneys general, led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, sent a letter to Kennedy and Makary requesting the reinstatement of past REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) requirements. They cited that women face serious adverse consequences 22 times higher than the rate mentioned on the FDA label for abortion pills, as indicated by a recent analysis from the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC).

According to the letter, reinstatement of the safety protocols is deemed necessary due to new studies showing the abortion drug Mifepristone causing adverse events and being less effective than claimed in marketing. If the safety measures cannot be re-established, they ask for the abortion pill to be removed from the market entirely until further review of its safety can be conducted.

The abortion pill was approved by the FDA in 2000 with safety protocols to guarantee its safe administration. However, under the Obama administration, these safety rules were weakened, increasing the acceptable gestational period and allowing the pill to be taken without the presence of a clinician. Similarly, the Biden’s administration continued to soften the standards, allowing the pill to be mailed and distributed through retail pharmacies.

One percent of women faced major complications such as sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging within 45 days of taking the abortion pill as revealed by the analysis conducted by the EPPC using an insurance claims database. This is a significant risk rate, supporting the attorneys general’s concerns.

The abortion pill has numerous known side effects and expanding access to it places women at risk, especially without necessary testing. It’s been revealed that abortion pill complications are often underreported, and there’s a clear necessity for more rigorous safety measures.

In conclusion, the abortion pill’s safety for women is seriously concerning and it’s high time for effective action to be taken.