Anti-abortion lawmakers passed a bill through the Kansas Legislature early on Friday that requires medical professionals to inform patients that an abortion pill may be "reversed" after it has begun.
If the Kansas abortion policy's proponents can override the Kansas governor's anticipated veto, the legislation might be challenged in state court, according to ABC News.
Although specialists contradict anti-abortion advocates' assertions regarding abortion pills, Republican legislators pushed the measure.
Democrats say the proposal rejects an overwhelming August statewide vote backing abortion rights. A similar bill was vetoed by Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly in 2019.
Notwithstanding the US Supreme Court's June 2022 rule that states may prohibit abortion, Kansas' legal and political environment will not allow it.
Republicans and anti-abortion organizations say last year's decision doesn't exclude "reasonable" limitations. They say "abortion pill reversal" only educates patients.
During a debate on the issue last week, Republican state Rep. Susan Humphries of Wichita said abortion patients "need to be knowledgeable about what can happen."
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Experts Are Skeptical About Abortion Pill Reversal Method
The measure passed the House 80-38 and the Senate 26-11. Abortion opponents lacked the two-thirds majority required to overturn vetoes in both houses, but enough missing members may have voted "yes."
The Kansas abortion pill reversal legislation also defined abortion to exclude contraception, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage care.
Kansas's Legislature also budgeted $2 million for anti-abortion crisis pregnancy clinics that provide the therapy, according to the Wichita Eagle.
The "reversal" approach, which uses progesterone instead of the second abortion drug, is neither safe nor effective, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Abortion opponents say that progesterone is commonly used to prevent miscarriage, and two doctors began utilizing the "reversal" approach more than 15 years ago. A 2018 research found that more than 750 women who tried the reversal pill were successful, per a report from US News.
However, critics stated the research was faulty and couldn't determine whether the women would have completed their pregnancies without progesterone.
Democratic state Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Kansas City registered nurse, underscored during Friday's debate that Kansas needs clinicians who are open to sticking to "fact-based health care and not forced to spread scientific myths."
Abortion opponents like state Rep. John Eplee, a doctor, said it is okay to promote progesterone's off-label usage.
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