This is a moving story about unsafe abortion in 1968. The public health threat of overturning Roe v. Wade is great, but women will not suffer the physical harms to the same degree they did in the 1960s thanks to medical advancements. Unfortunately, criminalization is.
Self-managed abortion is rarely coat hangers and back alley abortions these days. In my research in Texas, patients are more likely to give themselves an abortion through medication abortion or herbs: liberalarts.utexas.edu/txpep/_files/p…
My research has found medication abortion is safe for patients to use on their own (journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…) or via telemedicine (reuters.com/article/us-hea…), however taking medication abortion on your own is criminalized in many states. This is dangerous for patients.
Women have already been arrested, disproportionately women of color, and prosecuted, for attempting to, or being suspected of, self-managing their own abortions. broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/…
Not all patients who attempt to end a pregnancy on their own do so because they have no other option. Some prefer privacy, herbal remedies, avoiding clinic protesters, or a less invasive procedure. All should be able to do so without fear of prosecution.
As abortion access continues to be threatened, it's time that we focus our efforts on making medication abortion pills over-the-counter, and support those who decide to manage their own abortions during the process and shield them from prosecution. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
