Louisiana Lawmakers Approves Bill To Reclassify Abortion Medications as Dangerous Drugs

louisiana approves bill abortion medications dangerous drugs Senate Bill 276

By E.Baloyo , Parent Herald May 22, 12:42 pm

Photo: (Photo : OLIVIER DOULIERY / Getty Images)

Louisiana lawmakers approve the advancement of a new bill that would reclassify abortion medications as dangerous drugs.

The reclassification of the two most used drugs for medicated abortions in the state would mean that women would not be able to access them without a prescription.

Louisiana Lawmakers Approves Bill To Reclassify Abortion Medication

Louisiana legislators have moved forward with a bill that could criminalize the possession of abortion-inducing drugs without a prescription, a move causing concern among medical experts about potential impacts on patient care.

The bill, Senate Bill 276, targets mifepristone and misoprostol, essential medications for various medical purposes beyond abortion.

While pregnant patients would still have access to valid prescriptions, healthcare providers worry about the consequences in a state with high maternal mortality rates.

This measure, supported by anti-abortion groups and opposed by medical professionals and reproductive rights advocates, proposes adding mifepristone and misoprostol to Schedule IV of Louisiana's Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

Since abortion is largely illegal in Louisiana, prescribing these medications for termination purposes is already restricted to specific situations.

According to data from the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortions accounted for a significant portion of all abortions last year.

Under the proposed legislation, possession without valid prescriptions or medical orders could result in up to five years of imprisonment. However, the law exempts pregnant individuals who obtain the medications for personal use.

Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of the New Orleans Health Department and an emergency medicine physician, emphasized the safety and effectiveness of these drugs.

She noted that they are not substances prone to abuse and shouldn't be classified as controlled, dangerous substances.

Dr. Avegno highlighted the medical community's view that this reclassification is based on flawed science and lacks comprehensive understanding.

She emphasized that the discussion isn't solely about abortion but rather the wide-ranging medical uses of these drugs, including facilitating safe childbirth and managing miscarriages.

However, critics argue that these medications play crucial roles in healthcare beyond abortion, such as assisting in labor, managing miscarriages, and treating various medical conditions.

They note that Schedule IV substances encompass a range of medications used for different purposes, from pain management to mental health disorders and weight-related issues.

Abortion Medications as Dangerous Drugs

Senate Bill 276, if passed, would also criminalize coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, prohibiting individuals from using medications to induce abortion without the pregnant person's consent.

Offenders could face up to 10 years in prison, escalating to 20 years if the pregnancy is three months or more advanced.

Mifepristone received FDA approval in 2000 for pregnancy termination in conjunction with misoprostol.

These drugs also serve other medical purposes, such as managing miscarriages, inducing labor, and addressing obstetric hemorrhaging.

The proposed reclassification in Louisiana, part of an amendment to an originating Senate bill, seeks to deter unauthorized use of abortion-inducing drugs. Proponents argue it would curb unlawful access to these medications.

GOP state Rep. Julie Emerson highlighted Sen. Thomas Pressly's intent behind the bill, citing personal experiences like Pressly's sister, who had abortion drugs administered without consent.

The amended bill heads back to the Senate for further consideration, intending to designate the medications as Schedule IV under Louisiana's Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

Louisiana currently enforces near-total abortion restrictions, barring medical and surgical procedures, except in cases of significant risk to the mother's life or "medically futile" pregnancies, where the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

Presently, 14 states enforce comprehensive abortion bans with limited exceptions.