Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill that would add two medications commonly used to induce abortion, mifepristone and misoprostol, to the state’s list of controlled dangerous substances. The bill criminalizes possession of these medications without a valid prescription, punishable by fines, jail time, or both. The measure, supported by anti-abortion groups, has drawn concern from medical professionals and reproductive rights advocates. Abortion, both medical and surgical, is already illegal in Louisiana, except in certain limited circumstances. While pregnant people obtaining the medications for their own use would not be prosecuted, the bill raises concerns about restricting access to critical medications with various medical uses beyond abortion care.
Medication abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions in 2023, highlighting the important role these drugs play in reproductive healthcare. The bill, passed by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, will now go back to the Senate for approval and eventually be sent to the governor to be signed into law. If enacted, possession of the medications without a valid prescription could result in up to five years in prison. The bill also criminalizes coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, prohibiting individuals from inducing abortion without the pregnant person’s consent, with penalties of up to 10 years in jail.
Medical professionals have raised concerns about the reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled dangerous substances, as these medications have critical uses apart from abortion care. These drugs are utilized in labor induction, miscarriage management, and other medical treatments. The doctors argue reclassifying the medications would create a false perception of danger and hinder access to evidence-based care for pregnant women in Louisiana. Doctors also highlighted the importance of ensuring safe and effective use of these medications for legitimate medical reasons beyond abortion.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Thomas Pressly, introduced the legislation in response to his sister’s experience of being subjected to coerced abortion medication. While Pressly maintains that the bill aims to regulate the appropriate and effective use of the medications for medical purposes outside of abortion, doctors and reproductive rights advocates contest the scientific basis behind categorizing these medications as controlled substances. They argue that the reclassification does not align with evidence-based medical practices and may hinder healthcare providers’ ability to use the drugs for various medical needs.
State Rep. Mandie Landry, a Democrat, attempted to recommit the bill to the legislature’s Health and Welfare Committee due to concerns about the proposed reclassification of the medications. She emphasized that the amendment could impact the ability of rural clinics to access and provide the medications for various medical procedures aside from abortion. However, the attempt to recommit the bill was voted down, allowing the bill to proceed to the House floor for a vote. Republican Rep. Julie Emerson clarified that the amendment would not prevent doctors from prescribing or administering the medications for legitimate medical purposes, despite recategorizing them as controlled substances.
The bill’s passage in the House raises questions about the potential impact on reproductive healthcare and medical practices in Louisiana. While proponents assert that the legislation aims to regulate the use of mifepristone and misoprostol for non-abortion-related medical needs, opponents argue that reclassifying these medications could limit access to critical treatments for pregnant women. As the bill awaits further approval in the Senate and potentially becoming law, the debate around the reclassification of these medications continues, with medical professionals and reproductive rights advocates advocating for evidence-based care and access to essential medications.
