{"id":327561,"date":"2025-03-10T16:51:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T21:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=327561"},"modified":"2025-03-10T01:39:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T06:39:55","slug":"trump-fda-nominee-totality-data-abortion-pill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/trump-fda-nominee-totality-data-abortion-pill\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump FDA nominee says he wants to ‘review the totality of data’ on abortion pill"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Pregnancy Help News<\/a>) President Donald Trump’s pick to head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said<\/a> he would take a “solid, hard look” at the data on chemical abortion pill mifepristone Thursday.<\/p>\n

Dr. Marty Makary made his remarks on the abortion drug before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee during his hearing for FDA Commissioner, according to multiple news outlets.<\/p>\n

Mifepristone<\/a> is the first for two drugs in a chemical abortion and was approved in 2000<\/a>\u00a0in a process that some pro-life advocates\u00a0argue<\/a>\u00a0was hurried,\u00a0not in accord<\/a>\u00a0with science or law, and steeped in politics.\u00a0The FDA<\/a>\u00a0then loosened its own safety standards on the drug in 2016\u00a0and 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The safeguards<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0mifepristone<\/a>\u00a0removed by the FDA over\u00a0the last nine years<\/a>\u00a0include an initial in-person doctor visit to screen for ectopic pregnancy and other serious conditions, and a follow-up visit to check for life-threatening complications such as internal bleeding and infection. The FDA then lessened its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) requirements for chemical abortion drugs, permitting themto be dispensed<\/a>and mailed<\/a>\u00a0by pharmacies.\u00a0The Biden administration made access to the drug without in-person dispensing permanent in 2023, according<\/a> to NBC News.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do think it makes sense to review the totality of data and ongoing data,\u201d Makary said in the March 6 Senate hearing, referring to mifepristone access.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know personally of OB doctors who prefer, to insist, even though they have the option to prescribe otherwise, but they choose to insist that mifepristone be taken when necessary in their office as they observe the person taking,\u201d Makary said. \u201cI think their concern is that if this drug is used in the wrong hands, it could be used for coercion.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ: The abortion industry wants the abortion pill approved for miscarriage care\u2026 but why?<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In\u00a0U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine<\/a><\/em>, a group of pro-life doctors and organizations\u00a0challenged the FDA’s decision<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0remove those remove key health and safety measures<\/a>\u00a0from the prescribing requirements for chemical abortions. The U.S. Supreme Court\u00a0ruled in June<\/a>\u00a0that the doctors did not have standing – but\u00a0upheld their conscience rights<\/a>\u00a0and also\u00a0refrained from ruling on the merits of the case<\/a>, leaving the door open for other parties to take up the case.\u00a0Three states<\/a>\u00a0that were\u00a0allowed to join the case<\/a>\u00a0could continue\u00a0<\/a>with the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pro-life concerns<\/a>\u00a0about mifepristone\u00a0include the physical risk to women but also the possibility for\u00a0the drug<\/a>\u00a0would be used in\u00a0human trafficking<\/a>\u00a0and other\u00a0scenarios<\/a>\u00a0involving\u00a0abuse<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0coercion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Among the minor side effects\u00a0possible with mifepristone<\/a>\u00a0are cramping, nausea, and vomiting.\u00a0Severe complications<\/a>\u00a0that require immediate medical attention include extremely heavy bleeding, severe infection, and retained tissue.<\/p>\n