Due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the economy, abortion medication was allowed to be sent through the mail. One question looming right now is the following: Will that continue even if impacts from the pandemic begin to wane?
A growing number of people have sought out abortions in the U.S. over the last several years. In fact, a growing number of people- around 40%, according to the Guttmacher Institute and reporting by the New York Times- used F.D.A. approved medications to complete abortions.
Beyond the debate and ethics of abortion, which has been a hot-button issue in U.S. politics for years- there’s a newer one unfolding. Should women need to go to a doctor or seek out an ultrasound, which has long been required in the U.S. before administration of those medications?
Recent studies have found that telemedicine had no effect on the outcome of terminated pregnancies. In fact, it found that over 98% of those observed were effective and went as planned, according to one study out of the UK.
For now, the Food and Drug Administration still requires doctors visits under normal circumstances. But that restriction was lifted during the pandemic, and could be permanently lifted in the post-pandemic world.
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