Introduction

A recent study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) reveals that over 10% of women undergoing chemical abortions with mifepristone experience serious adverse health events 1. The study analyzed a large dataset of public health insurance records, raising concerns about the safety and regulation of the abortion pill 1.

Study Details and Findings

The EPPC study examined the health records of 865,727 patients between 2017 and 2023, finding that 10.93% experienced at least one serious adverse event within 45 days of taking mifepristone 1. These events included emergency room visits (4.7%), hemorrhaging (3.3%), and infections (1.3%) 1. Thousands of women required hospitalization, over 1,000 needed blood transfusions, and hundreds suffered from sepsis 1. In 2.84% of cases, the chemical abortion was incomplete and required surgical intervention 1.

FDA Deregulation and Policy Implications

The study points to the FDA's deregulation of mifepristone under the Obama and Biden administrations as a potential contributing factor to the increased rate of adverse events 1. Deregulation included reducing the number of required in-person doctor visits and allowing mail delivery of the drug 1. Prior to 2016, mifepristone could only be used through the first seven weeks of pregnancy, but this was extended to ten weeks 1.

Reactions and Calls for Regulatory Review

Researchers at EPPC are urging the Trump administration to review current regulations and reinstate safeguards that were in place before the deregulation 1. This includes requiring three in-person doctor visits, confirming the pregnancy is within the first seven weeks, and mandatory reporting of adverse events 1. Medical professionals and ethicists have also voiced concerns, emphasizing the need for patient safety and informed consent 1.