Thread by @McMisoprostol

🧵 Before I say this I want to be very clear that Lizelle is NOT at all to blame for what is being done to her. Full stop.

But for others in the future, there are some things you can do to reduce (not eliminate) the risk of criminalization with a miscarriage or abortion at home:

1. Leave no online footprint of searches or purchases. Digital Defense Fund's privacy guide is your go-to. Private browsing, 2-factor authentication, encrypted messaging, etc. are critical: digitaldefensefund.org/ddf-guides/abo…

2. Medical complications are very uncommon with abortion pills but not impossible. If it's not an emergency but you need expert health advice, use a service like Google Voice to call or text the Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline at 1-833-246-2632. mahotline.org

3. If you need to seek medical care, please go. Don't disclose info about self-inducing an abortion to ER staff. This is how most people are reported. "I think I'm having a miscarriage" + your symptoms. No mention of pills. There is no widely available test to detect misoprostol.

4. Do not talk to the cops. Period. Do not. If questioned: "I am exercising my right to remain silent, and I wish to speak with an attorney." Contact the Repro Legal Helpline as soon as possible: 1-844-868-2812. reprolegalhelpline.org

As I said before, none of this eliminates the risk of criminalization. Sadly, many people have been arrested and charged for miscarriages. Black folks, Indigenous folks, and Latine folks are disproportionately targeted. But sometimes these strategies can make the difference.

Full transparency on where I’m coming from with this: I’m not a lawyer or a legal expert. I am a public health researcher who’s tried to read all of the self-managed abortion guidance/research/arrest reports out there. This is a brief summary of what I’ve collected along the way.

Addendum that I forgot: Misoprostol pills should be taken under the tongue or in the cheeks. Misoprostol cannot be detected in the bloodstream BUT undissolved remnants can be found during a pelvic exam if they were inserted vaginally. Thanks to @hannahmsays for this reminder!

Y'all, please stop making Handmaid's Tale comparisons on here. It is harmful, and if you don't understand why, please see the essay "White Women in Robes" by Sherronda J. Brown. werdbrew.wordpress.com/2017/07/15/whi…

.@Abortion_Squad was kind enough to help me put this thread into a blog post for easier reading + sharing!

Protecting Yourself from Criminalization for Self-Managed Abortion: onlineabortionresources.org/blog/protectin…

PSA: A hospital reporting #LizelleHerrera to police for an alleged abortion is despicable—but not illegal. #HIPAA does NOT prevent healthcare workers from disclosing health info to police when they suspect the patient of a “crime.”

Stay safe. aclu.org/other/faq-gove…