Latest news with #Misoprostol
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Confusion over maternal care medication plagues politics in Louisiana and beyond
Packages of Mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023, in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo illustration by) A year ago, Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill into law that made Louisiana the first state in the country to reclassify pregnancy care drugs as controlled dangerous substances. Since then, the political assault on the medications has continued to ramp up on the state and national level. The Louisiana law to reclassify mifepristone and misoprostol caused controversy, particularly when multiple medical professionals publicly criticized the measure saying the added burdens to accessing the medications could delay medical treatment in times of crisis. Misoprostol and mifepristone have been targeted because they are used in medication abortion, but both have multiple other uses. Misoprostol is used to prevent and treat postpartum hemorrhage. Since the state law went into effect in October, hospitals have changed how they store and dispense the drugs, locking them up in passcode-protected storage containers outside of labor and delivery rooms. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The New Orleans Health Department has been tracking complaints from health care providers and patients who have struggled with misoprostol access since October. The medical professionals and patients were provided anonymity to encourage feedback. One doctor wrote they had trouble accessing the drug to provide to a patient going through a hysteroscopy, a medical procedure in which the doctor examines a woman's uterus using a thin, lighted tube. 'I was unable to get misoprostol in pre-op for [a] patient undergoing hysteroscope,' the provider wrote. 'Therefore [I] had to manually dilate [the] cervix multiple times causing unnecessary harm to the patient.' Another doctor said they couldn't complete a biopsy, so they prescribed misoprostol to a patient in order to try the procedure again after softening her cervix. The doctor included the patient's diagnosis of abnormal bleeding on the prescription, and that the patient was not pregnant. The pharmacy refused to fill the prescription until the doctor got on the phone to confirm the medication was not being used to end a pregnancy. 'This could lead to a delay in diagnosis of cancer,' the doctor wrote. In another instance, a pharmacist refused to fill a prescription for misoprostol ahead of an IUD insertion, telling the patient 'he thought she was going to use it for an abortion,' wrote the doctor. There were also multiple accounts of misoprostol being prescribed for miscarriages, but pharmacists delayed filling prescriptions until they spoke to the doctor on the phone. In one instance, the mother who miscarried filed a complaint with the city health department. 'I was denied misoprostol, essentially leaving me with my dead baby inside of me even longer because the pharmacist said he couldn't give it to me,' the mother wrote. 'It was more horrific than it needed to be.' Even among state lawmakers who approved the law, confusion reigns. At a Louisiana House committee hearing last month, Rep. Lauren Ventrella, R-Greenwell Springs, said that last year 'we made it illegal to prescribe' mifepristone and misoprostol. However, both can still be legally prescribed by health care providers with the proper licensing for Schedule IV drugs. When the law reclassifying the medication passed, its supporters repeatedly stated they were not restricting access to the medication for people who needed it for reasons outside of abortion. When Ventrella misspoke, she was introducing House Bill 575, which would allow families to sue over suspected abortions. Attorney General Liz Murrill has referred to the law as 'another tool in the toolbox' that could be used against out-of-state doctors who prescribe abortion medication to patients in Louisiana. Murrill is currently prosecuting at least two cases involving a New York doctor who allegedly prescribed medications to pregnant women in Louisiana. So far, New York's shield laws, which protects abortion providers, have held up against states that have tried to prosecute doctors. Ventrella's bill awaits Senate floor action with less than a week remaining in the legislative session. Opponents of the reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol have worried that, by labeling the drugs as controlled dangerous substances, it would confuse medical providers and the public as well as stigmatize medications that have been proven to be safe and effective. They are challenging the law, Act 246, in state court, and a judge ruled May 15 that the plaintiffs suing the state have a right to pursue their case. 'Specifically, the judge agreed that the plaintiffs have sufficiently demonstrated the harm that the law is causing to their practice, and the patients that they serve, to be able to challenge the constitutionality of this law,' said Ellie Schilling, a New Orleans attorney representing the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs include the reproductive health advocacy group Lift Louisiana, the Birthmark Doula Collective and multiple women's health advocates and Louisiana health care providers, including OB-GYNs, midwives and pharmacists. As the court fight plays out in Louisiana, another clash is occurring on the national stage. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a 'complete review' on misoprostol and mifepristone. It comes in the wake of a far-right organization publishing a paper — one that is not peer-reviewed and many critics view as unscientific — claiming the drugs cause adverse medical effects. The far-right think tank, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, claimed almost 11% of women experienced a 'serious adverse event' from the medications, but peer-reviewed clinical studies have shown an overall 0.5% rate of serious adverse events. Other research in the report also doesn't hold up to fact-checking, and its authors did not reveal where they sourced the data that was cited. 'It's deeply troubling that Secretary Kennedy is elevating junk-science to justify reopening mifepristone's safety review, especially at the behest of anti-abortion political operatives,' said Dr. Angel Foster, co-founder of the Massachusetts Abortion Access Project, which provides medication abortion care to all 50 states via telemedicine. 'I know firsthand that mifepristone's safety is backed by decades of rigorous data. Rolling back access to mifepristone would be a disaster.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Woman seeks licence cancellation of Tirunelveli doctor after MTP leads to uterus removal
TIRUNELVELI: A 24-year-old woman has petitioned the state government seeking cancellation of the licence of an obstetrician working in a private hospital, alleging that her negligence during a Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) procedure in 2024 has resulted in loss of her uterus. The district collector Dr R Sukumar suspended the hospital's MTP licence on March 18, after holding an inquiry, but the duration of the suspension has not been specified. Collector Sukumar's order reads that the private doctor did not follow the MTP protocols. "Tab. Misoprostol was kept at 4.30 pm and the patient was shifted to labour ward for Manual Vacuum Aspiration at 6.30 pm, without ascertaining the dilatation of the cervix by performing per vaginal examination. Forceful dilatation of the cervix and inadvertent aspiration might have caused the perforation and further complications. Repeated administration of Tab. Misoprostol was not documented. Patient was discharged on the same day, without further monitoring and treatment with Intravenous antibiotics," his order read. The collector rejected the private doctor's explanation, stating it was unacceptable. In her petition to the Health Secretary, M Chitra Kumari of Prancheri village near Tirunelveli, stated, "When I was 10 weeks pregnant, a doctor at Gangaikondan Primary Health Centre recommended MTP, citing improper foetal growth. I approached Sumupriya Private Hospital in Thalaiyoothu for the procedure on September 10, 2024. The hospital claimed to have performed the MTP and discharged me on the night of September 11. However, I suffered severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. On revisiting the hospital on September 14, the obstetrician, Dr Ramya Jayalakshmi, after a CT scan, informed me there was a 4.8 cm perforation in my intestine. She said I have to undergo surgery immediately and that it would cost Rs 1.5 lakh."
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Highest ever illegal stock of abortion kits seized in Haryana
Haryana government authorities on Tuesday seized a staggering 5,805 medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits from a private residence in Kaithal—the largest such haul ever in the state struggling to 'save the unborn girl child', an official aware of the development said. This massive recovery is a chilling reminder of the scale at which abortion kits are being trafficked and points to how unregulated MTP kits are potentially being used to facilitate illegal sex-selective abortions--- a practice that continues to haunt Haryana, where the sex ratio remains among the most skewed in the country. Also Read: Retd CRPF man who killed his daughter had forced her first abortion In last three months, Haryana's health department has conducted over 30 raids at places allegedly involved in the illegal practice of gender detection and registered at least 20 first information reports (FIRs) against MTP kit sellers in the past two months, as per official data. According to Dr Gaurav Punia, Kaithal district Nodal officer of the PNDT (Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques), acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the health department, food and drug administration (FDA), and Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNBC) raided a private residential house near Bal Sadan Senior Secondary School in Kaithal on Tuesday morning. Also Read: Delhi HC issues guidelines to let minor rape survivors who need abortion get help 'Out of the total seized 5,805 MTP kits (worth ₹25 lakh) of different batches and manufacturer, 5,745 kits were sealed and seized, and 60 MTP Kits were taken for sampling,' Dr Punia told Hindustan Times over the phone. 'Each MTP kit contains one Mifepristone (200 mg) tablet and four Misoprostol (200 mcg) tablets. Both are used for terminating pregnancies. These drugs can only be stored or prescribed by registered medical practitioners and that too at authorised medical facilities.' Also Read: Bihar man booked in Haryana for online sale of abortion pills The officials said that a case under Section 3, 4, 5 of MTP Act, 1971 has been registered and the accused identified as Vikas Bansal, 47, a resident of a locality near Chandana Gate in Kaithal, who was found in possession of the stock, was arrested. As per the FIR, two other types of drugs 'Unwanted 72' (660 tablets), and 'Manforce -100' (3,840 tablets) were also recovered. The accused Bansal, a medical representative, admitted to having distributed these MTP kits for abortions over the last 2-3 years from this rented premises. Dr G L Singal, an expert and associated with Beti Bachao Beti Padhao flagship programme since its inception in 2015, said: 'This is the biggest ever haul... In the history of Haryana, we have not seized such a huge quantity of MTP Kits is a single raid earlier.' 'One MTP Kit means the life of one unborn child is at stake' According to Dr Singal, one MTP Kit means the life of one unborn child is at stake. He said at the root of Haryana's sex ratio at birth going down are these MTP Kits. 'After the gender determination test is done illegally, many abortions are done with these MTP Kits,' Dr Singal, save the girl child programme expert, said pointing out that the arrested medical representative cannot store these medicines. 'In 2021 also we had seized 350 MTP kits in Kaithal,' Dr Gaurav Punia said, adding that as per the law of MTP kit can only be used under the supervision of gynaecologist and no chemist can dispense it without prescription of gynaecologist to anyone. Haryana government recently issued directions for the sale of MTP kits only to approved MTP centres. Meanwhile, as many as 25 MTP kits were also seized in Hisar on Tuesday in another decoy operation conducted by FDA Hisar when a peddler who supplied 25 MTP kits (Cadila make) was nabbed after receipt of online ₹4,100 as its cost. In yet another case, the Drugs Control Officer Sonepat conducted decoy operation on Monday and nabbed a woman who allegedly supplied MTP kit for ₹1,500 for inducing abortion to a pregnant decoy. 'Two women including the owner of the hospital in Sonepat have been arrested on Monday night by the local police,' officials said. Alarming dip in SRB spurs crackdown Facing a sharp drop in the sex ratio at birth (SRB)—from 916 in 2023 to 910 in 2024, the lowest in eight years—Haryana has launched an intensified crackdown on the illegal sale of MTP kits, often used in unlawful and sex-selective abortions. The dip in SRB, a key indicator of gender imbalance, has set off alarm bells in the state which once celebrated improvements under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign. The Nayab Singh Saini-led government flagged 'weak enforcement' of key laws as a major hurdle and in early 2025 directed health and drug control agencies to act tough. At the heart of the crackdown is the growing online black market for MTP kits. In February, two UP-based online pharmacy owners were arrested for illegally supplying MTP kits to Gurugram—an action after which authorities have uncovered a larger network through decoy operations. In one raid alone, about 200 MTP kits were recovered from a UP-based supplier in February after the health and FDA officials placed an online order and got the kits delivered with usage instructions. Officials say MTP kits—legal only for use under medical supervision at approved centres for pregnancies up to nine weeks—are being misused in unsafe, unsupervised abortions, often with life-threatening consequences. So far, over 1,220 FIRs have been registered under the PC-PNDT and MTP Acts, including 400-plus after inter-state raids. Simultaneously, 379 of the state's 1,500 registered MTP centres have been shut and 16 more suspended in just one month, officials said. As Haryana's flagship save the girl child campaign falters, authorities are scrambling to plug the gaps—in enforcement, surveillance, and awareness—before the SRB crisis deepens further.
Time Business News
23-04-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
Understanding Safe Medical Options for Women's Health
Access to dependable and secure scientific answers for early prenatal care is critical. For many women around the sector, clinical abortion provides a non-surgical, non-public alternative that is both powerful and dependent on experts. Two not-unusual alternatives include the mtp kit and the purchase of an abortion tablet, both supplying a medically approved way to terminate pregnancy within the first nine weeks. Product Information The MTP Kit and the Abortion Pill contain two key medications that work together to safely terminate early pregnancy. The first medication, Mifepristone (200mg), blocks the hormone progesterone, which is essential for maintaining a pregnancy. The second medication, Misoprostol (800 mcg), induces uterine contractions to help expel the pregnancy tissue. These two medications, when used together, are highly effective for medical abortion within the first 9 weeks of pregnancy. Both medications are FDA-approved and have been used safely under medical supervision for many years. The mtp package is a combination of two essential medicines: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. These paintings work together to induce early pregnancy with the aid of first stopping the hormone needed to keep pregnancy, after which triggering the uterus to expel its contents. This method is medically accredited and used globally by means of women who need a private and secure opportunity for surgical approaches. It is generally taken at domestic, under the supervision of a health practitioner or a certified provider, and is known for its effectiveness and comfort. The period 'purchase abortion tablet' usually refers back to the equal-medication system because of the mtp package. Mifepristone is taken first to block the pregnancy hormone, followed by Misoprostol, which helps entire the system. When used efficiently in the encouraged time frame, this technique has a success rate of over 95%. Women regularly choose this feature for its simplicity, affordability, and capacity to hold private information. Some of the important benefits of the use of scientific abortion options include: Privacy: It may be performed at domestic with scientific advice. It may be performed at domestic with scientific advice. Safety: Approved by the Pinnacle Fitness government. Approved by the Pinnacle Fitness government. Cost-effective: Lower priced than surgery. Lower priced than surgery. Non-invasive: No surgical treatment is needed. These advantages make both the mtp package and purchase of abortion pills reliable options for girls seeking out supportive and safe reproductive health care. Choosing a trustworthy supply is extremely critical whilst buying any medication online. The quality and authenticity of the product at once have an effect on the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. If you are thinking about this option, here are two dependable hyperlinks from a dependable pharmacy: These products are presented through Panda Healthcare, an expert provider centered on secure and discreet delivery of girls' fitness medicinal drugs. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
