US pharmacies warned not to facilitate ‘horror’ of coerced home abortions

Posting abortion drugs to women is “unlawful” and “risky”, nearly 20 US state Attorneys General have warned retail pharmacies.

In a letter to stores including Walmart, the state attorneys said that home abortions have a higher risk of medical complications and “invite the horror of an increase in coerced abortions” due to a lack of oversight.

Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed regulations to allow brick-and-mortar pharmacies to dispense the drugs. In 2021, it made them permanently available by post following temporary rules for the coronavirus pandemic.

Consequences

Previously, mifepristone – used to kill a developing baby in the womb – had to be obtained in certain settings such as clinics and hospitals.

the horror of an increase in coerced abortions

The attorneys told stores that “federal law expressly prohibits using the mail to send or receive any drug that will ‘be used or applied for producing abortion'”.

They rejected what they described as the FDA’s “bizarre interpretation” of the law, warning that “consequences” would follow if the law was not adhered to.

UK

Across the UK, temporary regulations allowing women who are less than ten weeks pregnant to take abortion pills received through the post became permanent last year.

Women have spoken out about the dangers, including inadequate checks during telephone consultations, controlling partners and medical and emotional trauma.