A report released on March 11 found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to remove in-person dispensing requirements for abortion drugs has led to increased dangers for women.
The issue is significant because it affects women’s health and safety, particularly as more people access abortion drugs by mail without a physical examination. The Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) analyzed data from 2017 to 2023 and reported a notable rise in serious adverse events after the FDA revoked the in-person requirement.
According to the EPPC, the rate of serious complications rose by 1.35 percentage points when in-person visits were no longer required. For women with ectopic pregnancies—a life-threatening condition that can only be diagnosed during an in-person exam—the risk of harm was found to be 52% higher after the policy change. The report also noted that while the drug label lists serious adverse events as less than 0.5%, actual rates were measured at over 10% before the policy change and even higher afterward.
Heartbeat International, a network of pregnancy help centers, said it has received more calls from women experiencing complications following chemical abortions. “As the abortion pill has become more widely used, we are hearing from more women who call with complications or concerns after taking it,” Heartbeat International told EWTN News. “Some experience heavy bleeding, severe pain, or infection, while others realize they regret their decision after taking the first pill and are urgently looking for help.” Heartbeat added: “Many women we hear from who have these concerns express a feeling of betrayal, as they were sold on the idea that abortion was no big deal.” The organization stated: “When the in-person requirement for abortion pills was removed, it meant women could obtain abortion pills online without a physical exam or ultrasound… That removes important safeguards that determine gestational age and viability of the baby and also help detect life-threatening conditions like ectopic pregnancy.” Heartbeat continued: “On the ground level, this means some women are taking these powerful drugs without fully understanding the risks and only seeking medical help after serious complications occur… That is why we, along with other pro-life organizations, have called on the FDA to reinstate commonsense safeguards that help protect women from unnecessary harm and abuse.” They further warned: “Unfortunately, it has also opened a door for abusers to obtain the drug and force women into aborting their wanted babies… There are multiple cases in Texas, Illinois, and Ohio already documented, and it will continue until the REMS are reinstated.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said: “Since Biden’s FDA removed the in-person dispensing requirement, their explosive growth is responsible for more than 60% of at least 1.1 million deaths a year in our nation — more than fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine combined… This demands action by itself.” She added: “When you add the thousands of women and girls landing in emergency rooms with severe complications… since there are no real checks on who is ordering, the commonsense case for taking these dangerous drugs out of the mail — at a minimum — only grows with every passing day.” Dannenfelser called on policymakers to reinstate previous protections: “Not only are 51 U.S. senators, 175 representatives, and 21 attorneys general calling for safeguards like in-person doctor visits to be immediately reinstated but also this pressing safety threat brings self-identified pro-choice and liberal Americans to the table… And we are not going to stop calling for action to protect countless lives.”
