Avast ye, me hearties! Blimey, these chem'cal abortions be a perilous curse upon lasses! The Supreme Court mustn't ignore their plight!
2023-12-22
Arrr! Be it true, mateys, that o'er 450,000 lasses be poppin' perilous pills for their abortions on the American shores! We be takin' this matter afore the Supreme Court, hopin' they don't turn a blind eye to the peril that befallin' these fair womenfolk!
On December 13th, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would be hearing a case challenging the FDA's decision to remove safeguards for women and girls who take chemical abortion drugs. The case was filed by an organization, along with three others and four doctors represented by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys. This decision by the court could be a significant step in protecting women and girls from the dangers of these drugs, which the FDA has failed to do for the past two decades.The harm caused by these drugs is exemplified by a tragic experience shared by an OBGYN hospitalist. A patient named Giselle underwent a chemical abortion and experienced severe pain without any bleeding or clots. When she reached out to the clinic for help, they dismissed her symptoms as normal and denied her a follow-up examination. Giselle remained in agony for two weeks before being rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that she had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. This could have been prevented if proper safeguards were in place.
Unfortunately, the safeguards around chemical abortion drugs have been minimal and are now almost non-existent. For example, the FDA does not require abortionists to perform an ultrasound before administering the drugs, which would help identify ectopic pregnancies. Furthermore, these drugs can now be obtained online and delivered by mail without any in-person interaction with a medical professional.
The FDA's lack of concern for these safeguards is evident in their response during a lawsuit hearing. When asked how women are screened for ectopic pregnancy when obtaining the drugs online, the FDA's legal counsel mentioned asking questions about shoulder pain, which is a severe symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. This level of care is unacceptable for women who deserve better.
Complications from chemical abortions, such as hemorrhage and infection, are not uncommon, with one in five women experiencing them. The removal of in-person visits before and after taking the drugs is considered malpractice, leading to significant complications that emergency physicians are seeing. These complications have left women traumatized and even rendered infertile.
Overall, it is clear that the FDA's actions have put women and girls at risk, and the Supreme Court's decision could be a crucial step in protecting their safety.