Sen. Josh Hawley Proposes Bill to Ban Mifepristone
On Tuesday, Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri introduced new legislation aimed at revoking the FDA approval of mifepristone, a widely used abortion medication. This proposed bill extends from a previous one he presented last year, which sought to ban the drug completely and empower women to sue manufacturers he considers responsible for potential dangers associated with it.
The latest bill directly addresses the use of mifepristone for abortion, asserting that “the science is clear: Chemical abortion drugs are inherently dangerous for women and susceptible to abuse.” Hawley expressed concerns about the significant profits made by companies like Danko Laboratories from these drugs. He believes immediate congressional action is vital to protect women’s health.
If the bill passes, it would dismantle the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, categorizing its distribution for abortion as a federal offense. Statistics from the Guttmacher Institute indicate that mifepristone was involved in approximately 63% of abortions in the United States in 2023.
A recent study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center found that the reported side effects of mifepristone are significantly higher than the FDA-approved labeling indicates. More than 10% of women using the drug reported severe complications, including infections and heavy bleeding.
The Guttmacher Institute also estimates that, in 2024, there will be over a million abortions performed in states where such procedures aren’t prohibited. This figure doesn’t even account for abortions occurring outside formal healthcare settings or in states with varying laws regarding abortion.
In 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected a request from the Hippocratic Medical Alliance to challenge the FDA approval of mifepristone, allowing it to continue being prescribed via telemedicine and mail, which had become more common during the Biden administration.
Hawley’s previous attempts to regulate mifepristone included a bill that would establish safeguards for women experiencing complications and hold telemedicine providers accountable. His ongoing concerns and advocacy suggest that the dialogue surrounding abortion rights and drug safety will continue to evolve in the political arena.
In a recent communication to FDA Commissioner Marty McCulley, Hawley urged a re-evaluation of the available data on mifepristone, emphasizing the importance of women’s health in any decisions made regarding the drug.
