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In Texas Pharmacies, a Chilling Side Effect of Abortion Bans Is Already Playing Out
In Texas Pharmacies, a Chilling Side Effect of Abortion Bans Is Already Playing Out, Slate, May 24, 2022
. . . the medication that is prescribed to end a pregnancy isn’t just used for abortions. One such drug [misoprostol], prevents stomach ulcers and induces labor. Another [Methotrexate] is used for chemotherapy, arthritis, and lupus.
But now, amid mounting restrictions on legal abortion, some pharmacists fear that if they fill prescriptions for these drugs, even for non-abortion reasons, they could be subject to civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution.
In the state of Texas—where abortions have been severely restricted for more than eight months—this problem is already leading to administrative hassles and treatment delays that endanger patients and frustrate medical personnel.
In an interview with the Slate podcast What Next, Natalie Crawford, an Austin-based OB-GYN and fertility doctor, said that pharmacists in her area “do not want to fill” prescriptions for misoprostol, a drug commonly used to prevent stomach ulcers and induce labor. Crawford and other physicians sometimes use misoprostol to soften the cervix of a patient who isn’t pregnant before performing a gynecological procedure, such as inserting an IUD or examining the inside of her uterus.
. . . [speaking about CVS and some other pharmacies, a doctor says: ] “now require their employees to speak directly to the prescriber on the phone before filling a misoprostol prescription. If they don’t speak with someone, or if the diagnosis code does not match their allowed codes, they will deny the prescription,” Jamie said. “I have also run into issues with pharmacies not being able to reach us on Friday or after hours or on the weekends when our offices are closed, and denying the prescription.”
More, a lot more (no paywall, via MSN) https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/in-texas-pharmacies-a-chilling-side-effect-of-abortion-bans-is-already-playing-out/ar-AAXEhAH?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=88fd33cc69f34b3f888ba9ab8342504a
. . . the medication that is prescribed to end a pregnancy isn’t just used for abortions. One such drug [misoprostol], prevents stomach ulcers and induces labor. Another [Methotrexate] is used for chemotherapy, arthritis, and lupus.
But now, amid mounting restrictions on legal abortion, some pharmacists fear that if they fill prescriptions for these drugs, even for non-abortion reasons, they could be subject to civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution.
In the state of Texas—where abortions have been severely restricted for more than eight months—this problem is already leading to administrative hassles and treatment delays that endanger patients and frustrate medical personnel.
In an interview with the Slate podcast What Next, Natalie Crawford, an Austin-based OB-GYN and fertility doctor, said that pharmacists in her area “do not want to fill” prescriptions for misoprostol, a drug commonly used to prevent stomach ulcers and induce labor. Crawford and other physicians sometimes use misoprostol to soften the cervix of a patient who isn’t pregnant before performing a gynecological procedure, such as inserting an IUD or examining the inside of her uterus.
. . . [speaking about CVS and some other pharmacies, a doctor says: ] “now require their employees to speak directly to the prescriber on the phone before filling a misoprostol prescription. If they don’t speak with someone, or if the diagnosis code does not match their allowed codes, they will deny the prescription,” Jamie said. “I have also run into issues with pharmacies not being able to reach us on Friday or after hours or on the weekends when our offices are closed, and denying the prescription.”
More, a lot more (no paywall, via MSN) https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/in-texas-pharmacies-a-chilling-side-effect-of-abortion-bans-is-already-playing-out/ar-AAXEhAH?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=88fd33cc69f34b3f888ba9ab8342504a
Things in square brackets above are my additions.
"To make matters worse, the medical term for a miscarriage is spontaneous abortion."
and this being Texas ...
1 replies
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