CRIMINALIZING MEDICATION ABORTION

“It is appalling that Louisiana lawmakers have approved a bill recategorizing Mifepristone and Misoprostol as controlled substances in the state, especially given both drugs are used safely by hundreds of thousands of women each year to terminate their pregnancies. It is now one step closer to dangerously becoming law.

“Additionally, these drugs are not illicit or addictive drugs, and have other medical uses.  The passage of this amendment to reclassify these two safe medications as controlled substances, on the level of heroin and methamphetamine, will have a chilling effect on doctors, patients and undoubtedly adversely impact maternal health outcomes in Louisiana. 

“Instead of pushing to criminalize those who are helping people access safe, legal medication abortion, the state legislature should instead focus on pressing issues that would actually benefit the well-being of those they swear an oath to represent.”

Julie Burkhart is a national abortion rights leader, former senior advisor to slain Wichita-abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, and the only person in the country who has opened an abortion clinic in a state where it had been banned.

Ms. Burkhart is currently the president of Wellspring Health Access which has a clinic in Casper, Wyoming and co-owner of Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois, a nationally trusted leader in abortion services since 1974. Burkhart is regularly called on by national and local media to offer insight into the debate, including this recent New York Times profile piece about the Casper, WY clinic, and also a new short documentary of the Wellspring Health Access clinic and its operations.

Watch Julie and Mark here: