Abortion opponents shift focus to pills with lawsuits, proposed laws and possible federal action
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Anti-abortion officials are taking other steps, too, through legislation and lawsuits
IOWA (AP) – Opponents of abortion are increasingly focusing on restricting access to pills, which are the most common way to end a pregnancy in the U.S.
This month, the Texas attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor, saying she violated Texas law by prescribing abortion pills to a patient there via telemedicine. The suit represents the first lawsuit of its kind and could lead to a legal test for the New York law designed to protect providers there who prescribe the drugs to patients in states with abortion bans.
Anti-abortion officials are taking other steps, too, through legislation and lawsuits.
Abortion rights advocates are also concerned that President-elect Donald Trump’s administration could take action to restrict access if it chose to.
Pills are the most common means of abortion
By the time the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and opened the door for states to ban abortion, over half of all abortions were obtained using medication, usually a combination of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.
The drugs are different than Plan B and other emergency contraceptives that are usually taken within three days after possible conception, weeks before women know they’re pregnant. Studies have found they’re generally safe and result in completed abortions more than 97% of the time, which is less effective than procedural abortions.
