For years, an organization called Women on Web has given women a way to perform their own medication-induced abortions at home. The organization would remotely do online consultations, fill prescriptions, and ship pills that trigger miscarriages to women who live in countries where abortion is illegal. Several studies have shown that the service is safe.
For American women who’ve wanted pills, though, there’s been one major problem: Women on Web wouldn’t ship to the United States. …
Now Women on Web’s founder, a doctor named Rebecca Gomperts, has launched a new service that she says is just as safe as Women on Web, and it does ship to the United States. The cost is $95, but the website says the service will try to help women who can’t pay.
Just like Women on Web, the new service, Aid Access, will screen women for their eligibility to take the pills—they should not be more than nine weeks pregnant—through an online process. (If the pills are taken later, they are less likely to work.) Gomperts will herself fill each woman’s prescription for misoprostol and mifepristone, which together are about 97 percent effective in causing an abortion within the first trimester and already account for a third of all abortions in the United States. She then sends the prescriptions to an Indian pharmacy she trusts, and it ships the pills to women at their homes in the United States.
$95 for an early abortion is fantastic. I paid $1300 for the same service at planned parenthood a couple years ago.
I hope this works and I hope some women can find it before it becomes illegal through some loophole.
Post by goldengirlz on Oct 18, 2018 15:39:38 GMT -5
I’m as supportive of safe, widespread access to abortion as anyone but there’s no way this is legal unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor licensed to do so in that state.
Things still trickle in — I bought a cervical cap from Canada once even though it’s Rx-only in the States — but it’s not on the up and up.
Post by averyjessup on Oct 18, 2018 15:53:35 GMT -5
If she had a doctor licensed in each of the 50 states would it be legal then? Like, a woman in MA wants the pill so her consult is with the Dr in MA and the prescription is written by that doctor?
If she had a doctor licensed in each of the 50 states would it be legal then? Like, a woman in MA wants the pill so her consult is with the Dr in MA and the prescription is written by that doctor?
I am guessing it would, except that some states have other restrictions on abortions. So I feel like she is using her medical degree to assess if someone is a reasonable candidate for the non-surgical abortion, then use Indian pharmacies to skirt the states rules. I really don't know and I'm guessing she could/would lose her licenses in many states for running this program.
I’m as supportive of safe, widespread access to abortion as anyone but there’s no way this is legal unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor licensed to do so in that state.
Things still trickle in — I bought a cervical cap from Canada once even though it’s Rx-only in the States — but it’s not on the up and up.
Women on Web is pretty amazing at riding the legal line in order to get people access to their abortions. They will find the loopholes and use them to get people meds. Historically, they've held back in the US for a number of reasons, but they do their homework and are pretty badass. It's important to note that unlike other places you can just randomly order pills, when working with WoW, all patients are screened, they won't send pills if they don't think it's safe. They get around legalities by writing a prescription and having the pills sent from India. They've been doing this for a long time, are very good at what they do and they're not just sending pills without any contact with patients.
I am guessing it would, except that some states have other restrictions on abortions. So I feel like she is using her medical degree to assess if someone is a reasonable candidate for the non-surgical abortion, then use Indian pharmacies to skirt the states rules. I really don't know and I'm guessing she could/would lose her licenses in many states for running this program.
This is exactly what I'm assuming. They put a lot of work into figuring out loopholes.
I’m as supportive of safe, widespread access to abortion as anyone but there’s no way this is legal unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor licensed to do so in that state.
Things still trickle in — I bought a cervical cap from Canada once even though it’s Rx-only in the States — but it’s not on the up and up.
Women on Web is pretty amazing at riding the legal line in order to get people access to their abortions. They will find the loopholes and use them to get people meds. Historically, they've held back in the US for a number of reasons, but they do their homework and are pretty badass. It's important to note that unlike other places you can just randomly order pills, when working with WoW, all patients are screened, they won't send pills if they don't think it's safe. They get around legalities by writing a prescription and having the pills sent from India. They've been doing this for a long time, are very good at what they do and they're not just sending pills without any contact with patients.
That’s good to hear and I know that the overall trend in legislation has been to loosen restrictions on in-state licensing requirements so there might be a loophole I’m not aware of. But state medical boards are VERY protective on this issue and there are pretty strict state requirements when it comes to treating patients across state lines. That’s part of the reason why telemedicine is still so hit or miss.
ETA: Doctors can call in drug prescriptions across state lines but they need to have an established relationship with the patient, and that’s where it gets tricky. As a general rule, you can’t treat patients in [insert state] unless you’re licensed to practice there or you’re employed by the VA.
I’m as supportive of safe, widespread access to abortion as anyone but there’s no way this is legal unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor licensed to do so in that state.
Honestly, I don't care if it's legal. When the government effectively restricts access to abortion to the point that it's impossible to get one (seven states have one or fewer abortion clinics), I'd rather women use a service like this than turn to coat hangers.
I used to care more about following the law, but right now I care more about safety and access than legality.
I’m as supportive of safe, widespread access to abortion as anyone but there’s no way this is legal unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor licensed to do so in that state.
Honestly, I don't care if it's legal. When the government effectively restricts access to abortion to the point that it's impossible to get one (seven states have one or fewer abortion clinics), I'd rather women use a service like this than turn to coat hangers.
I used to care more about following the law, but right now I care more about safety and access than legality.
This. and "Abortion has become increasingly concentrated among those with lower incomes, with 75% of 2014 abortion patients having a family income below 200% of the federal poverty level" (33.3% of all Americans lived below 200% in 2016 to give you an idea of the "abortion tax" on the low income). Obviously, it does not account for the women who did not find a way to get an abortion that they wanted to have because hoops.
This is an interesting paper, if you have the time to read it. It mentions Women on the Web, in places.
I’m as supportive of safe, widespread access to abortion as anyone but there’s no way this is legal unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor licensed to do so in that state.
Honestly, I don't care if it's legal. When the government effectively restricts access to abortion to the point that it's impossible to get one (seven states have one or fewer abortion clinics), I'd rather women use a service like this than turn to coat hangers.
I used to care more about following the law, but right now I care more about safety and access than legality.
I’m not bringing it up because I don’t support it. (Like I said, I’ve gone to desperate measures to get BC before.) I just worry how long they can stay in business. I WANT this to be the real deal and I’m ALL IN. It just makes me a bit sad/worried/skeptical about how long they can keep it going. And drives home the point of why we need abortion protection if these workarounds aren’t going to pass muster.