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Open Letter: Roll Back Biden’s Reckless Expansion of Dangerous Abortion Pills To Protect Women and Children From the Dangers of Chemical Abortions

By 

Kelsey E. McGee

|
May 16

5 min read

Pro-Life

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The ACLJ just sent powerful letters to Members of Congress, HHS Secretary Kennedy, and FDA Commissioner Makary highlighting the undeniable dangers posed by chemical abortion pills. The ACLJ’s commitment to defending the sanctity of human life underscores this critical call for congressional and agency intervention.

Former President Biden and the most pro-abortion FDA in history initiated a reckless expansion of abortion pills that severely endangered the lives of countless women and children alike, willfully ignoring evidence of dangerous side effects in a blind pursuit of abortion expansion at all costs. Our letters urge both Congress and the Trump Administration to roll back this dangerous deregulation of abortion pills. We are grateful that HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has already committed to reviewing this issue, and we hope today’s letter provides him and other stakeholders with the information they need. We are also grateful to Sen. Josh Hawley (MO) for championing new legislation to this end.

The ACLJ has a strong history of intervening on behalf of the unborn and women harmed by abortion. We stand steadfast in combating misinformation and protecting the lives of women and children. Let us be very clear: This is about concrete data showing that chemical abortion not only risks the lives of women, but it also has an intended adverse effect of ending the life of an unborn child. That is a double harm we cannot overlook.

Chemical abortions are most likely to be the product of coercion by others. A staggering 64% of women reported feeling pressured into abortion, with more than half admitting it was not an independently made choice, but rather due to the influence of others.

Allowing abortion pills to be given in secret rather than requiring in-person visits to a medical provider provides a cover of secrecy that is frequently exploited by human traffickers, sexual predators, and domestic abusers. Chemical abortion pills make it easier for abusers to force women into terminating pregnancies without medical oversight. These pills, readily available through telehealth services and unregulated foreign providers, allow for silent coercion with little accountability.

The Rising Tide of Chemical Abortion

The Biden FDA rolled back previous and long-standing protections on chemical abortion pills. Since deregulation, the availability of chemical abortion pills has skyrocketed. Once bound by critical safety protocols – such as in-person medical evaluations – chemical abortions are now accessed with little to no medical oversight. In 2022 alone, chemical abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions in the United States, totaling 642,700. Shockingly, this number is believed to be underreported, with many telehealth providers and foreign suppliers skirting U.S. law and safety regulations.

A recent study involving 865,727 women prescribed mifepristone (abortion pills) between 2017 and 2023 revealed the chilling reality:

  • 28,658 cases of hemorrhage
  • 40,960 emergency room visits
  •  3,062 ectopic pregnancies
  • 24,563 required surgical abortions
  • 49,169 other abortion-specific complications

In fact, 11% of women who took these abortion pills suffered very severe adverse health effects leading to hospitalization, 22% higher than the FDA’s label indicates, and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. called this revelation “alarming.” These numbers expose the lie that is being spoon-fed to women by the abortion lobby and companies making these drugs, such as Mifeprex, which falsely touts only a “0.05% rate” of adverse events. We know now this is simply not true. Maintaining unlimited access is dangerous for everyone.

Deregulation: A Boon for Traffickers and Predators

The FDA’s rollback of safety measures has facilitated an underground market for abortion pills, exploited by abusers and traffickers. Domestic and international organizations are mailing out abortion pills in contravention ofU.S federal law and state regulations. The website Plan C provides a list of telehealth providers, some of which do not require the user to be pregnant. Moreover, it uses progressive state laws like California’s “Abortion Shield Law” and California doctors to dispense pills in states where the pills are more heavily regulated. This is blatantly illegal activity and endangers the lives of Americans.

Call for Congressional and Agency Action

The ACLJ’s letters to Congress, the FDA Commissioner, and HHS Secretary Kennedy call for immediate action. We urge Congress to pass legislation and the FDA and HHS to reinstate necessary regulatory safety measures, including in-person medical evaluations and stricter regulations on telehealth and foreign pill providers. Furthermore, we demand accountability for those who exploit women and endanger lives through these chemical abortions.

Women and children deserve better. They deserve protection from coercion, medical oversight for their safety, and transparency from those who peddle dangerous drugs. It’s time for Congress and federal agencies to roll back Biden’s dangerous and illegal deregulation and, instead, safeguard the lives of American women and their preborn children.

The ACLJ remains committed to fighting for life and holding those who profit from its destruction accountable. We urge Congress to prioritize the health and safety of women and end the dangerous deregulation of chemical abortion pills by passing pro-women and life-affirming legislation. We also call upon the FDA and HHS to reinstate realistic safeguards to protect the lives of all Americans.

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