Context:

Senator Josh Hawley introduced legislation aimed at regulating the abortion pill mifepristone following a study showing nearly 11% of women experience serious side effects from its use. The proposed Restoring Safeguards for Dangerous Abortion Drugs Act seeks to impose FDA safeguards, allow legal actions by affected individuals, and prohibit foreign companies from supplying the drug to the U.S. This legislation comes in the wake of a study analyzing over 865,000 insurance claims, which highlighted risks such as sepsis and hemorrhage. The FDA's previous easing of restrictions under the Obama administration is now being challenged, with calls for reinstating stricter controls. The bill's introduction coincides with ongoing legal battles surrounding the drug's accessibility, reflecting a broader debate on abortion rights and safety measures in the United States.

Dive Deeper:

• Senator Josh Hawley has introduced legislation that seeks to impose new restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, following a study indicating that nearly 11% of women experience serious adverse effects such as sepsis and hemorrhage after using the drug.

• The Restoring Safeguards for Dangerous Abortion Drugs Act would mandate the FDA to implement stricter safety measures, allow women harmed by the drug to sue telehealth providers and pharmacies, and ban foreign companies from mailing and importing the drug into the U.S.

• A recent study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center analyzed 865,727 insurance claims from 2017 to 2023, revealing significant health risks associated with mifepristone, which is used to terminate early pregnancies.

• The FDA had previously rolled back restrictions on mifepristone during the Obama administration, including the removal of mandatory in-person consultations and physician prescriptions, which the new legislation aims to reverse.

• Hawley has urged the FDA to reconsider its current stance and reinstate critical safeguards, citing the health and safety of American women as paramount considerations.

• The introduction of this bill comes amid ongoing legal disputes over mifepristone, with recent actions by the Trump and Biden administrations to protect its accessibility despite growing safety concerns.

• The controversy surrounding mifepristone and its regulation highlights the persistent national debate over abortion rights and the balance between safety and access to reproductive health options.