Vice President Kamala Harris is set to address the topic of abortion in Georgia on Friday, a state where two women’s deaths have been connected to a law that severely restricts the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy. One of the women, Amber Thurman, passed away after a 20-hour wait at a hospital following complications from abortion pills. This incident, as reported by ProPublica, marks the first publicized case of a woman dying due to delayed care related to a state abortion law. Another woman, Candi Miller, who had underlying health conditions, ordered abortion pills online that resulted in her passing away due to a mix of issues including fetal tissue remaining in her body and a lethal combination of painkillers, according to ProPublica’s report. Despite these cases, the state’s maternal mortality review committee did not attribute Miller’s death directly to abortion medication.
The use of abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, by both women has raised concerns about their safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone in 2000 as a reliable method to terminate early pregnancies. Originally, the FDA had stringent safety restrictions in place for the drug’s prescription and distribution, limiting it to certified physicians and requiring in-person appointments. Over time, these restrictions were relaxed, with a significant decision in 2021 removing the necessity for in-person visits and permitting the pill to be sent via mail.
Recently, a coalition of anti-abortion groups filed a federal lawsuit against the FDA challenging the long-standing approval of mifepristone. However, in June, the Supreme Court ruled that these groups lacked the legal standing to challenge the drug’s approval, thereby maintaining access to the medication. While opponents of abortion argue that the relaxed restrictions have led to more emergency complications, medical experts point out that only a small fraction of patients face major adverse events after taking mifepristone. Studies indicate that serious adverse events with mifepristone are rare, occurring in less than 0.32% of patients, according to a legal brief by medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Mifepristone’s labeling mentions possible complications such as ER visits, which are listed as a potential option for patients experiencing specific symptoms. However, medical professionals highlight that not all ER visits post-abortion indicate significant issues, with some patients seeking reassurance or having questions. The effectiveness of mifepristone in completing abortions is high, with studies showing a success rate of 97.4%. In a small percentage of cases, surgical intervention may be necessary, and in 0.7% of instances, the pregnancy may continue.
Comparatively, the safety and effectiveness of mifepristone, as per FDA records, have been favorable, with a low rate of deaths associated with the drug. Medical organizations supporting mifepristone’s availability draw parallels to the safety profile of common medications like ibuprofen, emphasizing its relative safety.The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.