Why Indiana’s next big abortion fight could be over abortion pills: Report

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, anti-abortion activists shifted their focus to new battlegrounds, including national abortion bans, expanding resources for new mothers, and restricting access to abortion-inducing drugs. Indiana lawmakers have introduced several bills targeting medication abortion, such as Senate Bill 241, which criminalizes the sale and delivery of abortion pills, and Senate Bill 245, which adds Mifepristone and Misoprostol to the Schedule IV drug classification. Another bill, Senate Bill 171, seeks to outlaw medication abortions entirely, reports Indystar.com.

Although Indiana’s near-total abortion ban took effect in August 2023, the use of telehealth and shield laws in other states has allowed abortion-inducing drugs to reach patients in Indiana. Since July 2023, telehealth abortions in the state have risen significantly, with over 200 monthly cases reported by mid-2024.

Anti-abortion advocates cite safety concerns with medication abortions, but data from the FDA and extensive medical research indicate that Mifepristone is extremely safe, with severe side effects or fatalities occurring in less than 1% of cases. Pro-abortion rights advocates argue that efforts to restrict access to medication abortion are not about safety but rather about controlling reproductive choices. This legislative push has made medication abortion the next major focus in the fight over abortion access.