Read my interview with Rewire News Group about self-managed abortion.
Email from Physicians for Reproductive Health

Dear John,

In the U.S. each year, almost 40 percent of abortions are done with medication—that is using pills provided directly to patients by health care providers. It’s not known how many people self-manage their abortion by obtaining abortion pills on their own.

There are many reasons why someone may need or want to manage their own abortion. For some, it’s in line with their self-care practices. For others, accessing abortion in a traditional medical facility can be too complex and costly.

With 20 states banning telemedicine abortion and the FDA mandating pills be picked up in person, clinic-based abortion care is even harder to reach during a deadly pandemic.

I spoke to Rewire News Group about the hypocrisy of these restrictions and the harm caused to patients by the intentional exceptionalism with which abortion is treated.

Screenshot: Rewire News Group article

The truth is that the real risk for those who self-manage their abortion is not medical. It’s legal. Individuals from historically marginalized communities—like Black women, young people, and undocumented folks—are more likely to face criminalization because of their reproductive decisions. Self-managed abortion is no different.

PRH is calling on the Biden-Harris administration to take urgent action to remove ALL restrictions on medication abortion, including directing the FDA to lift its in-person pill dispensing requirements.

We must keep the pressure on our lawmakers right now. The science is clear: medication abortion is a safe and effective way to access abortion care before, during, and after the pandemic.

Thank you for sticking with us in this fight for the safe and compassionate care we all deserve.

Sincerely,

Signature of Dr. Jamila Perritt

Dr. Jamila Perritt
President & CEO

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