New Louisiana Abortion Laws Cause Doctors Panic

Louisiana's Doctors are concerned over the reclassification of two drugs that have an alternative use as abortion medication but can be lifesaving in urgent cases.

Act 246 of the 2024 Louisiana Legislative Session was authored by Senator Thomas Pressly and will go into effect on October 1st, 2024. According to the state legislature, the act establishes the crime of coerced criminal abortion, the act of inducing an abortion an an unknowing and unconsenting mother.

Doctors have called reason for concern after the Louisiana State Legislature enacted a new law that places drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol under Schedule IV controlled substance classification in the eyes of the state.

Mifepristone and Misoprostol are both commonly used in abortions to terminate a pregnancy but both have other medicinal uses that doctors worry will be difficult to treat with the drug's new classification. Misoprostol can induce abortions but commonly it is found in use to treat postpartum hemorrhaging outside of this lifesaving use it is often used by doctors to induce labor when immediately necessary, miscarriage-related treatment and its main use outside of pregnancy is an ulcer-preventing drug for people with select arthritis conditions or those who are prescribed pain medicines with may cause ulcers.

After a report from the Louisiana Illuminator highlighted concern from the state's doctors the Louisiana Department of Health shared a memo clarifying both Mifepristone and Misoprostol may still be used to treat postpartum hemorrhaging, even though on its own Mifepristone is not used to treat postpartum hemorrhaging.

Illegal distribution of a Schedule IV drug carries a penalty of prison time without or without hard labor for no less than a year but no more than ten, as well as a fine of up to $5,000.

The drug has not been outlawed though, like many other Scheduled drugs it is only legally available for prescription use. Doctors are concerned that these lifesaving drugs will be harder to get in emergencies since their new legal classification legally requires a longer period to get approval for use.