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a day ago
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Abortion opponents are coming for mifepristone using what medical experts call 'junk science'
Using flawed studies and scientific journal publications, abortion opponents are building a body of research meant to question the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone, a key target for the movement. The effort comes as federal officials have expressed a willingness to revisit the drug's approval — and potentially impose new restrictions on a medication used in the vast majority of abortions. Mainstream medical researchers have criticized the studies, highlighting flaws in their methodology and — in the case of one paper published by the conservative think tank Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) — lack of transparency about the data used to suggest mifepristone is unsafe. The vast body of research shows that the drugs used in medication abortion, mifepristone and misoprostol, are safe and effective in terminating a pregnancy. 'There's a proliferation of anti-abortion propaganda right now. I think it is a coordinated attack on mifepristone,' said Ushma Upadhyay, an associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco who studies medication abortion. Released in April, the EPPC paper suggests that mifepristone results in serious adverse events for 1 in 10 patients — substantially higher than the widely accepted figure of .3 percent complication rate most research has attributed to the pill. The paper appears to count what other researchers say are non-threatening events, such as requiring follow-up care to complete the abortion, or visiting an emergency room within 45 days of an abortion — even if the patient did not end up requiring emergency care — as serious adverse effects. That paper also did not go through peer review, a standard process for scientific research in which other scholars review a study's findings and methodology before it can be published. Another paper, a commentary piece published this week in the journal BioTech, challenges the commonly cited statistic that mifepristone has a lower complication rate than acetaminophen, or Tylenol, tracing the history of the comparison and arguing that it is mathematically flawed. The paper's author, Cameron Loutitt, is a biomedical engineer by training and director of life sciences at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a research arm of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America. 'My hope is that this paper sparks action in my peers in the research and medical community to more critically evaluate these unfounded claims regarding abortion drug safety,' Loutitt said in a statement. Days later, a group of researchers from the institute published another study, this one arguing that emergency rooms are likely to identify medication abortions as miscarriages, which they say increases the risk of needing hospital care. A miscarriage and a medication abortion are medically indistinguishable, and patients will sometimes visit an emergency room to ensure the drugs worked, or if they suspect possible complications. In places where abortion is illegal, patients may also tell health care providers they experienced a miscarriage to minimize their legal risk. Studies like the Lozier Institute paper suggest complications from medication abortions are being undercounted. That study was rejected by another journal on April 12 before being published this week, noted Upadhyay, who had served as a peer reviewer in that rejection process. A similar paper written by many of the same researchers behind the Lozier Institute's was retracted a year ago by the journal that published it, along with two others suggesting mifepristone was unsafe. 'They keep trying to publish the same junk science,' Upadhyay said. James Studnicki, the Charlotte Lozier Institute's director of data analytics, who led the second of its new anti-abortion papers and the study retracted last year, did not respond to a request for comment. But a spokesperson for the institute said the organization is challenging last year's retraction through an arbitration process. This March, Studnicki said in a statement that the retraction placed 'politics over publication ethics.' These studies and papers all fall outside the scientific consensus. More than 100 studies over decades of research have found that mifepristone — and the medication abortion regimen as a whole — has a low complication rate and is very safe to use for abortions. Papers like these aren't new, and their scientific accuracy has long been questioned. But the bevy of new reports and analyses comes at a moment when abortion opponents may have more influence in shaping public policy. Mifepristone restrictions are a top priority for the anti-abortion movement. About two-thirds of all abortions in the United States are now done using medication. Even in states with abortion bans, pregnant people have increasingly turned to abortion medication, which they receive from health providers in states with laws protecting abortion. Nationwide, about 1 in 5 abortions are now performed using telehealth; almost half of those are for people in states with bans or restrictions. Mifepristone is currently approved for use through 10 weeks of pregnancy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before a Senate committee that he has directed the Food and Drug Administration to review the approval of mifepristone, citing the EPPC paper specifically. Jim O'Neill, who is nominated for a deputy secretary role, has also said he is in favor of a 'safety review' of the drug — a move that could result in new restrictions on how it is prescribed. Meanwhile, physicians and researchers are highlighting the rigor of the FDA approval process. 'FDA approval of mifepristone must reflect the rigorous clinical evidence that has proven unequivocally that it is safe and effective for use in medication,' 13 reproductive medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, said in a statement after Kennedy indicated the drug may undergo a new FDA review. 'Mifepristone has been used for decades for abortion and miscarriage management by millions of patients, and complications are exceedingly rare, minor, and most often easily treatable.' The International Institute for Reproductive Loss, an anti-abortion nonprofit, has explicitly prioritized the publication of research that supports restrictions on medication abortion. Presenting at an anti-abortion conference last September, that organization's science director, Priscilla Coleman, highlighted strategies that she said could help result in the retraction of studies showing mifepristone's safety, such as finding 'agenda-driven, poorly developed and conducted studies published in peer-reviewed journals' and writing to journal editors. Coleman did not respond to a request for comment. Though no scientific consensus has changed, anti-abortion lawmakers have rallied around the suggestion that complications are common. In a private Zoom meeting reported on by Politico, abortion opponents cited the EPPC paper as a potential tool to justify further restrictions on mifepristone — even while acknowledging that the report is 'not a study in the traditional sense' and 'not conclusive proof of anything.' Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, cited the EPPC paper in a letter to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who had only a day before the report's publication indicated openness to reviewing mifepristone's approval if new evidence emerged. 'The time to act is now. It is time to revisit and restore the FDA's longstanding safety measures governing mifepristone,' Hawley wrote. His office did not reply to a request for further comment. 'They're producing this terrible 'science' because they don't have any real science that backs them up. And all they've gotten from the administration is, 'Yeah, we'll study it,'' said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University who has advised state legislatures on crafting abortion-protetctive laws. Through the courts and Trump administration, abortion opponents have pushed to reverse a 2021 FDA decision allowing mifepristone to be distributed via telehealth. In addition to calling for the in-person requirement to be reinstated, abortion opponents are asking for restrictions such as the dispensation of the drug to require three in-person visits, and for mifepristone to only be approved for use only in the first seven weeks of pregnancy. Many have also argued the drug should be taken off the market entirely. The Trump administration said on the campaign trail that it would leave abortion policy up to the states. So far, there has been little indication from the federal government that such changes are imminent. 'Pills are kind of just spreading, as we predicted, without almost any restriction and so far the anti-abortion movement hasn't figured out what to do,' Cohen said. The post Abortion opponents are coming for mifepristone using what medical experts call 'junk science' appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
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a day ago
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9-year-old San Diego girl's death after dental procedure ruled an accident
More than two months after a 9-year-old San Diego girl died following a dental procedure, officials have released new details on her death. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death of Silvanna Moreno an accident, according to an updated summary report. The girl died after she underwent anesthesia. The medical examiner listed her cause of death as "methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration." Contributing conditions included the administration of multiple anesthetic medications. Methemoglobinemia is a very rare blood disorder that affects how red blood cells deliver oxygen, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Not everyone experiences symptoms, but nearly all people with the disorder have skin, lips or nails that are blue or purple. In some cases, it can be life-threatening. People can inherit the disorder, but it usually happens "when people use certain medications or recreational drugs or exposure to certain chemicals," according to the Cleveland Clinic. The dental procedure took place on March 18 at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista. Dr. Ryan Watkins, the office's trained anesthesiologist, said methemoglobinemia can occur with the administration of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. He said Silvanna never exhibited signs that something was wrong during the procedure. "If we had observed any indication of methemoglobinemia, we would have immediately discontinued the procedure and transported her to the hospital for emergency treatment," he said in a statement. The day before the procedure, Silvanna had a fever and was given children's Tylenol, People magazine reported, citing an autopsy report. The day of, she complained of a headache but did not appear to be distressed, it said. The dental procedure was three hours long, People reported. The dentist's office said Silvanna was a new patient and had been referred to them for a root canal on a molar. Doctors completed the root canal and restored the tooth with a crown. Some decayed "baby teeth" were extracted, as well as some decayed permanent teeth. One permanent tooth needed a crown, the office said, noting that three hours is normal for these procedures. Watkins said Silvanna was "a healthy 9-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups" and underwent the office's standard preoperative evaluation. He said he evaluated her as "an appropriate candidate for outpatient general anesthesia" and continuously monitored Silvanna throughout the procedure. Afterward, she was monitored in a recovery area "until she was awake with stable vital signs," he said. She was evaluated before she was released into her mother's care, he said. Silvanna's family could not be reached for comment on Friday. According to the medical examiner's summary report, Silvanna fell asleep during the car ride home and stayed sleeping upon her arrival. Family members put her in bed and checked on her throughout the day. Her family later found her unresponsive and called 911, according to the summary report. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Watkins said the office is conducting an internal review of the case and will consult with experts "to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients." "We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Silvanna Moreno, and our hearts continue to go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time," he said. Watkins was previously investigated by the Dental Board of California after a 54-year-old patient nearly died in 2016, according to NBC San Diego. State investigators said the man was put under anesthesia and was given two drugs, which led to his heart stopping. Investigators had said that one of the drugs should never have been given to the man. Watkins was put on probation from 2020 to 2023, according to a decision order. The man ended up filing a lawsuit against Watkins, which was later settled, NBC San Diego reported. This article was originally published on
NBC News
a day ago
- Health
- NBC News
9-year-old San Diego girl's death after dental procedure ruled an accident
More than two months after a 9-year-old San Diego girl died after she underwent anesthesia for a dental procedure, officials have released new details in her death. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the March 18 death of Silvanna Moreno an accident, according to an updated summary report. It listed her cause of death as "methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration." Contributing conditions included the administration of multiple anesthetic medications. Methemoglobinemia is a very rare blood disorder that affects how red blood cells deliver oxygen, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Not everyone experiences symptoms, but nearly all people with the disorder have skin, lips or nails that are blue or purple. In some cases, it can be life-threatening. People can inherit the disorder, but it usually happens "when people use certain medications or recreational drugs or exposure to certain chemicals," according to the Cleveland Clinic. The dental procedure took place on March 18 at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista. Dr. Ryan Watkins, the office's trained anesthesiologist, said methemoglobinemia can occur with the administration of nitrous oxide. He said Silvanna never exhibited signs that something was wrong during the procedure. "If we had observed any indication of methemoglobinemia, we would have immediately discontinued the procedure and transported her to the hospital for emergency treatment," he said in a statement. The day before the procedure, Silvanna had a fever and was given children's Tylenol, People magazine reported, citing an autopsy report. The day of, she complained of a headache but did not appear to be distressed, it said. The dental procedure was three hours long. Watkins said Silvanna was "a healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups" and underwent the office's standard preoperative evaluation. He said he evaluated her as "an appropriate candidate for outpatient general anesthesia" and continuously monitored Silvanna throughout the procedure. Afterwards, she was monitored in a recovery area "until she was awake with stable vital signs," he said. She was evaluated before she was released into her mother's care, he said. Silvanna's family could not be reached for comment on Friday. According to the medical examiner's summary report, Silvanna fell asleep during the car ride home and stayed sleeping upon her arrival. Family members put her in bed and checked on her throughout the day. Her family later found her unresponsive and called 911, according to the summary report. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Watkins said the office is conducting an internal review of the case and will consult with experts "to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients." "We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Silvanna Moreno, and our hearts continue to go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time," he said. Watkins was previously investigated by the Dental Board of California after a 54-year-old patient nearly died in 2016, according to NBC San Diego. State investigators said the man was put under anesthesia and was given two drugs, which led to his heart stopping. Investigators had said that one of the drugs should never have been given to the man. Watkins was put on probation from 2020 to 2023, according to a decision order. The man ended up filing a lawsuit against Watkins, which was later settled, NBC San Diego reported.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
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Moorhead mother charged with murder for death of 20-month-old boy
The Brief Murder charges have been filed against a woman for the May 15 death of her 20-month-old son. Valerie Connue Zamora, 32, of Moorhead, is charged with second-degree murder without intent after police found bruises all over the boy's body. An autopsy lists the manner of death as a homicide caused by blunt force injuries. MOORHEAD, Minn. (FOX 9) - A woman is charged with the death of her son after authorities found injuries and signs of neglect on the boy's body. Valerie Connue Zamora, 32, of Moorhead, is charged with second-degree murder without intent after the child died at a hospital on May 15. Big picture view Law enforcement responded to the Sanford Medical Center just after 11:20 p.m. on May 15 after the Cass County Coroner informed them that a child who died there had bruising after being brought to the hospital by his mother. The child was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. after hospital staff failed to save the child, according to the criminal complaint. Charging documents say detectives then examined the boy's body and noticed "various bruising all over the victim" and that "the victim's belly was distended." When Zamora spoke to investigators, she reportedly told them her son woke up and started vomiting that morning, so she gave him some Tylenol and Gatorade before running errands. The complaint states she added the child "basically" slept all day. She went on to explain that when the child appeared not to act normal and began to breathe differently, she went to a Walmart in Dilworth to get Pedialyte. It was at that point that the child began vomiting blood, and the child was rushed to the hospital. Zamora reportedly told investigators that she was aware of her boy's bruising, adding that he bruises easily and that she didn't let anyone else near the child. The complaint states that when questioned further, Zamora's story began to change regarding how sick the child was leading up to the arrival at the hospital. She then said he had been vomiting the day before, but that the vomit looked normal. Zamora said the color of the vomit changed over time to a black or dark substance and that the boy couldn't keep any liquids down. Zamora then spoke with detectives again on May 19, during which she changed her timeline of events leading up to the child's death. Although Zamora was "adamant" she didn't hurt her child, the complaint states she didn't take him in for medical care because the situation was "obviously neglect" and she was scared social services "would take her children away." Dig deeper Investigators then spoke to friends, neighbors and Zamora's other two children. The complaint states that multiple witnesses told Zamora that the sick child needed to go to the hospital multiple times throughout the day. One of Zamora's other children told investigators that she was worried her brother was going to die in her arms because he was cold and struggling to breathe. What they're saying An autopsy revealed the official cause of death as a "complications of blunt force injuries due to assault" with the manner of death listed as homicide, according to the criminal complaint. Other injuries included contusions to the abdomen, head, face, jaw, neck, chest, arm, and legs, as well as a perforated bowel and hemorrhages to the liver and pancreas. The Source This story uses information from a criminal complaint filed in Clay County Court.
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Cause of Death Revealed for 9-Year-Old Who Was Placed Under Anesthesia for Dental Procedure
Silvanna Moreno, a Southern California third-grader, died on March 18, hours after surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista Her cause of death was listed as methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration Methemoglobinemia occurs when excessive amounts of nitrous oxide get into someone's hemoglobin and tissues don't receive enough oxygenThe cause of death has been revealed for a 9-year-old girl who underwent anesthesia for a dental procedure earlier this year. Silvanna Moreno, a Southern California third-grader, died on March 18 hours after surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, Calif., according to a new San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (SDCME) autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE. Silvanna's cause of death was listed as methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration. Methemoglobinemia occurs when excessive amounts of nitrous oxide get into someone's hemoglobin (the protein contained in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to the tissues) and cause hypoxia, so tissues do not receive enough oxygen. Nitrous oxide was among the anesthetics Silvanna was administered during her procedure, according to the autopsy report. Silvanna's autopsy states she had surgery after she complained of tooth pain in October 2024, She was referred to Dreamtime Dentistry, which booked her for a Tuesday, March 18, procedure. The day before, she had a fever but her symptoms resolved after being given children's Tylenol, according to the autopsy report. The day of her surgery, she complained of a headache 'without appearing distressed,' according to the report. She was administered anesthesia at 10 a.m. for a three-hour procedure. Once she woke up, she was moved to a recovery room and then discharged, the autopsy states. On the way home, she was described as being 'out of it' and later was snoring heavily but was also initially able to open her eyes and stand. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Once Silvanna arrived home, she was carried inside and remained asleep for around 90 minutes before her snoring got noticeably quieter and slower, according to the autopsy. Her grandmother then administered two separate readings of her heart rate. After the second reading, she remained unresponsive and 911 was called at 4:46 p.m. local time — about six hours after her getting anesthesia. A dispatcher instructed the grandmother to administer chest compressions while they waited for emergency personnel to arrive. She was taken to Rady Children's Hospital Emergency Department, where she was in asystole — a condition in which the heart's electrical system fails, causing the heart to stop pumping, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Silvanna was administered several life-saving tactics but was pronounced dead at 5:44 p.m. Dreamtime did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment on the autopsy. In a previous statement, a representative for Dreamtime's Dr. Ryan Watkins told PEOPLE, in part, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our young patient, which occurred several hours after her completed dental procedure." "Throughout the procedure, she was continuously monitored by our dentist anesthesiologist, who ... has over 20 years of experience successfully administering general anesthesia on children, with no complications observed," the statement continued. "Following the procedure, [Silvanna] was discharged in stable condition—awake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intact—into her mother's care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols," according to Dreamtime's previous statement. "The safety and well-being of our patients have always been and remain our highest priority," Watkins said, adding, "Our hearts break for the family during this unimaginable time of grief, and we extend our deepest condolences as we maintain our focus on supporting the family and cooperating fully with the medical investigation." Read the original article on People
