Walgreens confirmed on Friday it will not dispense a certain abortion drug by mail or at their stores in the states that prohibit the life-ending chemical compound.
The company made the announcement in response to a letter from 20 attorneys general of states, who threatened legal action if the company distributed the drug mifepristone, which part of a cocktail of medication that has become the most popular method for ending the lives of unborn children.
Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the 19 others had signed the letter warning Walgreens and CVS pharmacies that mailing abortion-inducing pills is illegal and unsafe and that they would take legal action against the company if it followed through on its plans to mail the drugs across state lines. Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor was a signatory of the letter, although in Alaska there are no restrictions on abortions, which can be performed up until the moment of birth. The attorney general of Kansas sent a separate letter.
In January, the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with misoprostol to end a life up to 10 weeks of gestation. The drugs must be dispensed by a certified prescriber, pharmacy, or under their supervision and, according to the FDA, can be dispensed by mail.
“Walgreens does not intend to dispense Mifepristone within your state and does not intend to ship Mifepristone into your state from any of our pharmacies. If this approach changes, we will be sure to notify you,” the letter to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach from Walgreens Executive Vice President Danielle C. Gray said.
Kobach applauded the decision, and said that the use of unsupervised abortion pills could lead to complications and the possibility of coercion. Although he didn’t specify it, unfettered availability of abortion drugs could also lead to a woman being forced or tricked into taking the medication. These medications are different than the Plan B pills that women can take after unprotected sex.
“This is a significant victory for the pro-life cause and for women’s health. The dispensing of these pills without a supervising physician present would expose women to complications and potentially to coercion as well. I’m grateful Walgreens has responded quickly and reasonably and intends to fully comply with the law.”
Planned Parenthood says the drugs are safe.
“The abortion pill is really safe and effective. It’s a super common way to have an abortion, and millions of people have used it safely,” the organization says on its website.
The White House also believes the drugs are safe for women.
“Elected officials targeting pharmacies and their ability to provide women with safe, effective and FDA-approved medication is dangerous and just unacceptable,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “This is all part of a continued effort by anti-abortion extremists who want to use this arcane law to impose a backdoor ban on abortion. The administration will continue to stand by the FDA’s expert judgment in approving and regulating medications. And in the face of barriers to access and concerns about safety of patients, healthcare providers and pharmacists, we will continue to support access to this critical medication within the limits of the law.”
However, women who take the medication might face complications.
“Your doctor may want to do an ultrasound to make sure your pregnancy is less than 10 weeks and is not outside the womb (ectopic),” according to WebMD.
“Take mifepristone by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually as a single dose. After taking mifepristone, your doctor should direct you to wait 24 to 48 hours before taking another medication (misoprostol) by mouth as a single dose. The medications may not work as well if you take misoprostol sooner than 24 hours after taking mifepristone or later than 48 hours after taking mifepristone. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Heavy vaginal bleeding does not mean that an abortion is complete.”
The website also warns women to not drink grapefruit juice while taking the medication and says that if the treatment fails and the pregnancy continues, the baby may be born with birth defects.
“It is important that you return for a follow-up visit within 7 to 14 days after taking mifepristone, even if you are not having any problems,” the website advises. “If abortion does not occur or is not complete, or there are serious medical problems, surgery may be needed. If the treatment fails and the pregnancy continues until birth, there is a risk of birth defects.”
“The abortion pill is really safe and effective.”
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Hmmmmm, where have we heard that little gem of misinformation before?
It kills little humans and it’s totally safe and effective???? WTF? Are people just too stupid? Or just too lazy??????? We have birth control! I know there are special circumstances,,,,,,I just don’t think we need to be safely killing babies simply because its more convenient. How’s about we just go ahead and start spaying and neutering people. This would be much more humane! This is what we’ve come too? Who stole our hearts?
The birth control pill isn’t really any different from this abortion pill except that it doesn’t allow for the conceptus to attach to the uterine wall. It’s still an abortion but very few seem to have a problem with the former.
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