Salem, Ore.—On Tuesday, January 3, the FDA finalized a rule expanding the availability of chemical abortion pills. The rule-change makes President Biden’s pandemic-related policy permanent, and expands it to allow virtually any pharmacy to dispense abortion pills without in-person screening.
“One of the most fundamental roles of our government is to protect its citizens. The Biden administration is utterly failing in that regard,” said Lois Anderson, Oregon Right to Life executive director. “Chemical abortions have already been shown to be dangerous for the mother, and they are deadly for the unborn child.”
Chemical abortions have been tied to a substantial increase in serious complications. A 2021 longitudinal study found that emergency room visits after a chemical abortion increased by more than 500% in 2002–2015 and the rate is growing more rapidly for chemical abortions than for surgical abortions. The FDA has also reported 28 deaths that have been correlated with the use of mifepristone.
Anderson continued, “The Biden administration shouldn’t be eliminating safeguards. Women and their children are already being severely harmed by chemical abortions. Now is the time to create more safety, more protection, not to pave the way for more pain.”
