POLITICS: Kennedy orders FDA review of abortion pill amid safety concerns – USSA News

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for a comprehensive investigation into the abortion drug mifepristone after recent findings suggested the medication may pose more serious health risks than previously noted by federal regulators.

The move by Kennedy follows the release of new analyses that appeared to reveal significantly higher rates of serious complications from the abortion drug than those reflected in the FDA’s current labeling, as the Daily Wire reports, and the decision by the HHS secretary is sure to draw the ire of liberals everywhere.

Speaking before congressional committees on Wednesday, Kennedy told lawmakers that he had tasked FDA Commissioner Marty Makary with executing a full evaluation of the chemical abortion medication. The announcement came during hearings in both the Senate and House, where Kennedy also addressed President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to the Health and Human Services budget.

The main focus of attention Wednesday, however, was Kennedy’s directive regarding mifepristone, a widely used abortion pill. The medication is part of a two-drug regimen — taken along with misoprostol — that induces abortion by triggering uterine contractions to expel fetal tissue. The drug’s widespread access has drawn increased scrutiny, especially after the FDA revoked its in-person dispensing requirement in 2023, allowing distribution through online pharmacies and mail-order services.

Raising the issue during the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) cited a recent analysis from the socially conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. According to the data shared, mifepristone was far more hazardous than the FDA’s label had previously indicated. Kennedy responded to the findings by remarking, “It’s alarming,” and stressed the need for corrective steps, stating, “Clearly, it indicates that at the very least the label should be changed.”

New data show higher risk than label suggests

The analysis referenced by Hawley claimed that in 2023, more than one in ten women who took mifepristone experienced a serious medical complication. Reported issues included heavy bleeding, emergency room admissions, the need for blood transfusions, and potentially deadly infections such as sepsis. This rate of adverse events stands in stark contrast to the FDA’s previously released figure of fewer than 0.5% of users experiencing serious reactions.

In a separate study made public earlier this week, researchers found that over 5% of women required a second abortion procedure after the pill failed to complete the termination. These failures can lead to incomplete abortions, which may leave fetal tissue in the womb and pose serious long-term health risks if not treated quickly.

Although Kennedy announced the request for a complete FDA review, he admitted on Wednesday that a timeline for completion has not yet been established. “I’ve asked Marty Makary, who’s the director of the FDA, to do a complete review and to report back,” he said in direct response to concerns posed by lawmakers.

Conservatives react

Conservative and pro-life figures quickly responded with support for Kennedy’s action. Ryan Anderson, who leads the Ethics and Public Policy Center and co-authored the study cited in the hearing, expressed gratitude for Kennedy’s approach. “We’re very thankful for this announcement from Secretary Kennedy,” said Anderson. He encouraged the federal agency to carry out its own independently verified research to offer women clearer information about potential health consequences.

Doug Truax, founder of the Foundation for the Restoration of America, another organization involved in releasing data on abortion pill injuries, also praised the decision. “We applaud Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his swift directive to FDA for a thorough study of the dangerous chemical abortion pill,” said Truax. He went on to criticize the role political ideologies have played in the abortion pill’s regulation, warning, “The health and safety of women is at risk and we can’t allow ideology to trump science.”

Pro-life lawmakers have especially taken note of Kennedy’s position due to his past affiliation with the Democratic Party. This action has brought attention to whether his current role under the Trump administration may influence his abortion policy positions in a new direction.

Kennedy explains roader stance on abortion policy

Last year, Kennedy offered insight into his views on abortion in a discussion with Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, where he distanced himself from the idea of criminalizing the procedure. “I say that I understand that position, and I don’t agree with it,” Kennedy said in response to Shapiro’s pro-life argument.

At the same time, he emphasized that the use of abortion should not be seen as routine or encouraged. “The solution of having the state come in and dictate choices that a woman is making is not a good solution,” he asserted during the interview. This nuanced view places Kennedy in a complex policy space as he balances support for medical safety with opposition to government overreach.

During Wednesday’s testimony, Kennedy also commented on the Trump administration’s planned cuts to HHS spending. While recognizing that they would be “painful,” he said they were crafted to save taxpayer money “without impacting critical services.” Still, much of the discussion returned to the mifepristone review, signaling its significance as a current point of bipartisan focus.

FDA reassessment expected

The FDA’s current label for Mifeprex, the brand name for mifepristone, states that serious adverse reactions occur in less than 0.5% of users. However, the studies cited by lawmakers and advocacy organizations suggest this figure may significantly underrepresent the actual risk.

In removing the in-person requirement for prescribing mifepristone, the FDA previously argued that the drug was safe enough to be offered via telemedicine.

Critics, however, now assert that remote distribution may have exposed women to greater health risks by reducing opportunities for direct evaluation by medical professionals.

As the agency begins its review, questions will likely arise about whether it should restore older dispensing protocols or issue updated safety warnings. Kennedy’s request for a comprehensive assessment may open the door for regulatory revisions — especially if the FDA finds that previous oversight did not sufficiently account for new data.

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