Even abortion supporters now say mifepristone — the drug responsible for more than half of U.S. abortions — lacks proper safety oversight, according to an Oct. 28 Federalist report.
The outlet cited a national August survey by McLaughlin and Associates of 1,600 likely voters — most of whom identified as pro-abortion, with 59% saying they held a “favorable” view of Planned Parenthood. A majority of those surveyed said they believe the abortion drug is dangerous and should face tighter oversight from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
When asked about the drug’s safety, roughly six in 10 of the 1,600 respondents said they believe the drug combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is “unsafe” or were unsure of its safety, according to the outlet. Only 16% described it as “very safe.” A strong majority — 71% — said women should be required to see a doctor before receiving a prescription.
The survey also found widespread concern about abuse and coercion. Seven in 10 respondents reportedly agreed that abortion pills are often “used by sexual abusers to cover up rape, exploitation, or sex-trafficking” and said doctors should screen for signs of coercion before providing the drug.
As CatholicVote has reported, the Biden administration loosened safety protocols for mifepristone, allowing it to be prescribed via telehealth and mailed directly to patients. Pro-life advocates warn that such access enables abuse, citing cases in which women have allegedly been drugged by partners without their consent.
“The majority of Americans believe we need more restrictions on the abortion pill,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told The Federalist. “Mifepristone is extremely dangerous and even deadly for women, with nearly 11 percent of women who take it experiencing an adverse health event — sometimes serious enough to send them to the emergency room. Not to mention, the drug is 100 percent lethal to the child. It’s time for the FDA to restore common-sense safety standards to the chemical abortion drug immediately.”
The survey also revealed distrust of pharmaceutical companies. According to The Federalist, 72% of respondents said mifepristone manufacturers have prioritized profit over women’s safety and have pressured the FDA to weaken health standards.
Three in five agreed that chemical abortions are “far more dangerous than advertised, and women deserve a doctor’s care to prevent serious health complications like hemorrhaging, bleeding, or infections,” while 87% supported updating the drug’s label to list known side effects such as heavy bleeding, infection, and depression.
Those warnings echo widespread concern about the drug’s labeling and marketing. An April study found nearly 11% of women suffered serious or life-threatening complications — including hemorrhage, infection, and sepsis — within 45 days of a mifepristone abortion. The newly discovered complication rate is more than 20 times higher than what the FDA-approved label currently lists.