How we can all become abortion providers

[Auggie]

Editorial by Nuala Bishari, published in the San Francisco Chronicle, July 2, 2022

NOTE: Link is behind a paywall. I'm condensing the opening to add the authors' comparison to the drug Naloxone.

Bishari begins by writing about Naloxone, the free overdose reversal drug (fentanyl, e.g.) in San Francisco. Naloxone is available by "standing prescription," meaning a single doctor can write a prescription "for a large group of people" which can then be administered by trained staff or volunteers without a doctor present, "much like how pharmacists can administer the flu vaccine."

It's a "hugely successful model," Bishari writes, adding that "more than 13,000 people in (San Francisco) have been trained to administer it" ... "and none of them were required to provide their name."

Bishari then asks:

"Could we create a paper trail-free standing order for abortion drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol?"

Her short answer: "Yes, in theory. But the Food and Drug Administration is stopping it."

Excerpts:

That’s because tight barriers currently exist around abortion drugs — mifepristone in particular. Until late last year, the FDA required that the drug be dispensed in person by a medical professional — a task that became more difficult during COVID-19 restrictions and staffing shortages. After the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lobbied for change, that requirement was dropped, making it possible for the drug to be mailed to people.

But we’re still miles away from a standing prescription. Unlike naloxone, mifepristone is still controlled by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, which means that only certified pharmacies can distribute it. It’s not currently legal for volunteers at a pop-up health tent, for example, to hand it out.

SNIP

There are countless examples of creative ways people skirt FDA requirements. Communities have cared for their own long before recent abortion restrictions came into being. One Bay Area midwife told me about underground care networks, where those who are distrustful of traditional medical centers or don’t have insurance can call on a friend or family member who will mail them abortion medication without going through a pharmacy. Skilled support is then provided through Signal, the encrypted messaging app, on how to take the drugs and track symptoms safely.

SNIP

The battle to loosen FDA restrictions on abortion drugs has been going on for years. But after the ruling on Roe, there’s a renewed urgency in not just preserving the status quo, but in making these drugs more accessible. As the whole country looks toward the future of abortion rights, reducing FDA regulations must be part of the fight.

LINK: https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/How-we-can-all-become-abortion-providers-17276892.php

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[crickets]

2. K&R for visibility.

[Auggie]

3. Thanks. Until (if ever) there's national legislation ...

"creative" solutions similar to this need to be shared widely.

[Bayard]

4. K&R

[Auggie]

5. Thanks!