Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Post

Texas abortion bans lack specific guidelines for physicians to follow when providing reproductive care, especially in miscarriage cases. Thus, health care providers are forced to weigh legal consequences before patients’ safety. In a paper by researchers from the Baker Institute Center for Health and Biosciences and Rice University students, authors outline the large-scale implications of Texas policy on access to miscarriage care and recommend policy actions to ensure the protections for physicians and patients. Read more: https://bit.ly/3SFcuhO

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about restricting access to Mifepristone. As providers of comprehensive virtual primary care for women, we hope that the Court will rule in a manner that supports the preservation of access to FDA-approved medications. A ruling against mifepristone access could strike another severe blow against a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health decisions.  Additionally, precedent where the Courts interfere with the expertise of the FDA could open up challenges to a wide range of FDA-approved medicines and adversely impact public health in the United States for years to come. 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬.  #WomensHealth #PrimaryCare #VirtualCare #Mifepristone #AbortionPill #AbortionRights #SupremeCourt 

Unitended Consequences: This recent study highlights the significant impact that restrictive abortion laws, such as Texas Senate Bill 8, have on infant mortality rates. The findings reveal that after the implementation of SB8, Texas experienced a notable increase in infant deaths, particularly those due to congenital anomalies, compared to other states. This underscores the unintended consequences of such policies on public health and the need for further analysis and reconsideration of reproductive health legislation

Texas' abortion bans are not only harming patients but also driving OB/GYNs out of the state, worsening an already critical healthcare shortage. We must prioritize removing these harmful restrictions to ensure doctors can provide essential care without fear of legal repercussions. Protecting both patients and healthcare workers is crucial for the future of women’s health in Texas. #ReproductiveRights #HealthcareCrisis #ProtectOurDoctors #EndAbortionBans

Abortion is a deeply personal decision, often accompanied by a variety of emotions and concerns. One of the most common questions women have is whether there are side effects after an abortion. While the procedure is generally safe when performed by qualified healthcare professionals, it’s important to understand the potential physical and emotional effects that may follow. In this article, we’ll explore the possible side effects after an abortion, how to manage them, and when to seek medical attention.... https://lnkd.in/dyrGxyFS

🙌 Lifting Dana Northcraft's statement on tomorrow's oral arguments at #SCOTUS. #AbortionisHealthcare #TrustFactsnotJunkScience! The 2 questions presented before SCOTUS are: 1️⃣ Whether the plaintiffs (including emergency room doctors who claim to have endured "significant stress, trauma, emotional anguish" over the possibility of providing mifepristone to a patient in need....even though they can refuse to offer care...even though they are quite literally #ER #doctors... 🤔 )have standing to bring the case 2️⃣ Whether the #FDA’s 2016 and 2021 actions to revise the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies #REMS and other conditions were arbitrary and capricious 💡 this is the part that can roll back #telehealth for medication abortion and #pharmacy dispensing 🏛 Although the additional issues of #mailing #abortionpills and #contraception via addressing the legitimacy of the dormant #Comstock Act and the rollback of the original #Mifepristone approval are not on the table directly, #SCOTUS still has the power to talk about both of these issues in their rulings. #staytuned! ⚡ And, remember, #Mifepristone is #safe and #effective. We've got decades of studies, patient data, and research to prove it!

Really comprehensive review of medication abortion and the policies and regulations that impact it in a post-Roe U.S. landscape.

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA case that, if allowed to take effect, would sharply restrict access to medication abortion nationwide, including via telehealth, and roll back the clock on advancements in medication abortion. RHITES Founding Director Dana Northcraft released the following statement: “The future of a safe and effective FDA-approved medication should never be determined in a courtroom. The Supreme Court must act to protect public health and safety and access to telehealth. Anything short will have a dramatic impact unlike anything we have seen thus far, decimating abortion care, increasing inequities, and limiting the ability to innovate to reach more patients. Decades of research and experience demonstrate that mifepristone is safe and effective, including when prescribed via telehealth. Extremist judges, anti-abortion politicians, and lobbyists should not stand in the way of people getting the abortion care they need in the way that’s best for them." Learn more about telehealth for medication abortion care at RHITES.org 💙

Here is an interesting reflection on the implementation of domestic facing policies and legislation in sexual and reproductive health rights in the context of international women’s day. A is for Anna, Autonomy and also Abortion.

Why collaboration between academics and legal experts is crucial, particularly when challenging existing laws and advocating for new research within court proceedings. Consider the recent developments in the US Supreme Court: Sage, a scientific journal publisher, has retracted pivotal abortion studies referenced by anti-abortion groups in a legal case seeking to overturn regulatory approval of the abortion and miscarriage medication, mifepristone. This represents a significant victory for the upcoming case scheduled for March. All three studies were spearheaded by James Studnicki, affiliated with The Charlotte Lozier Institute, a research arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. It underscores the importance of scrutinizing research conducted in universities or published in journals to ensure it remains free from conflicts of interest." We need to track who is funding them, what is the sample size, what is the conclusion #USAbortionRuling #medicalabortion #laws #academia