While many states have suspended all nonessential medical care during the coronavirus crisis, pro-choice advocates are insisting that abortions are medically necessary.
In fact, they are pressuring the Trump administration to eliminate restrictions on the abortion pill during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the drug is the best option for women looking to end their pregnancies when an in-person contact may not be possible.
“Abortion is obviously a time-sensitive medical procedure. It’s not an elective procedure that can just be rescheduled a month or two later,” said abortionist Daniel Grossman, who directs the far-left research group Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health.
The abortion pill includes two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for the child to grow in the womb. Misoprostol triggers contractions and eventually expels the baby from the body.
Risks associated with the drugs include excessive bleeding, severe abdominal pain, infection, hemorrhaging and in some cases death.
In compliance with the federal Food and Drug Administration, mifepristone “must be ordered, prescribed and dispensed by or under the supervision of a health care provider who prescribes and who meets certain qualifications” and “may only be dispensed in clinics, medical offices and hospitals by or under the supervision of a certified health care provider.” Misoprostol is typically allowed to be taken at home 24-48 hours after ingesting mifepristone.
In light of the global pandemic, President Trump called on Health and Humans Services to expand telemedicine capabilities in order to lessen the spread of COVID-19. Abortion advocates argued that the administration should allow pregnant women to consult with their providers virtually and obtain mifepristone via their pharmacy or in the mail.
Yet the FDA’s Office of Medical Affairs is holding firm, saying in a statement that “certain restrictions, known as a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, are necessary for mifepristone when used for medical termination of early pregnancy in order to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks.”
Lila Rose, founder and president of the pro-life organization Live Action, agreed with the FDA’s decision to stand strong against the abortion industry. In a tweet, she referenced a report released by the FDA which included the number of adverse events that occurred among patients who had taken mifepristone for medical termination of pregnancy between September 2000 and December 2018.
“Because of the abortion pill: 3.7 million children are dead; 24 women are dead; 599 women have needed blood transfusions; 1,042 women have been hospitalized,” she wrote. “Yet during a shortage of blood and hospital resources, abortionists are pushing for abortion by mail. Shut them down!”
Photo: George Frey/Reuters/Newscom