States Clamp Down On Pregnancy Centers Over Abortion Pill Reversal

She swallowed the pill on a Thursday night. She immediately regretted it.

Mackenna was five weeks pregnant when she took mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in a chemical abortion. By the next day, rather than Googling “abortion pill” as she had done earlier, she was searching for information on whether she could reverse the effects of the drug.

Fortunately, Mackenna found the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, which connected her with Chelsea, a nurse practitioner who runs a medical clinic in Castle Rock, Colorado. Chelsea contacted Mackenna that evening and saw her the next morning.

Chelsea told Mackenna about a progesterone treatment called “abortion pill reversal.” Progesterone is a natural hormone that has been safely used for decades to support pregnancies, prevent miscarriage, and forestall pre-term labor. If taken within 72 hours after mifepristone, supplemental progesterone can halt the chemical abortion process.

Many women like Mackenna change their minds after taking the first abortion drug. For these women, abortion pill reversal offers a second chance to save their babies’ lives.

Mackenna opted for the treatment, and it worked. “My beautiful daughter was born this summer,” Mackenna said. “I can’t imagine life without her.”

Yet, across the country, government officials are trying to deprive mothers of that choice. APR and the stories of women who regret their abortions threaten those officials’ pro-abortion agenda. So they are suppressing information and pushing laws that compel women to finish their abortions, even when the mother changes her mind.

In many states, the government is trying to make it illegal for pro-life healthcare providers and pregnancy care centers to offer or even speak about this life-saving progesterone treatment, simply because of the personal and political views of politicians.

It should go without saying that medical professionals seek to save lives. But when healthcare providers like Chelsea seek to save an unborn life, that’s enough to draw scrutiny from pro-abortion officials.

Enter Alliance Defending Freedom, where I serve as legal counsel. We are on the frontlines defending many of these pro-life clinics and pregnancy centers — working with their incredible staff and volunteers to keep them open to vulnerable women facing difficult circumstances.

In Colorado where Chelsea runs her clinic, Castle Rock Women’s Health, a 2023 law prohibits doctors and nurses from providing abortion pill reversal. This law wrongly denies women the freedom to choose to save their babies’ lives. ADF attorneys represent Chelsea in a lawsuit against state officials as she defends APR. The state can’t force women to follow through with an abortion when a safe and effective alternative is available — one that Chelsea can skillfully provide.

Something similar is happening in California and New York. Both states’ attorneys general have filed lawsuits against pregnancy centers for simply educating the public about the option of abortion pill reversal. The officials are abusing their power by censoring pregnancy centers’ speech about this life-saving treatment.

In Vermont, a law hinders the ability of pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise their services and robs women of options. And in New Jersey, the attorney general has targeted a Christian pregnancy center network for its pro-life views and demanded that it identify its donors and produce up to 10 years of its confidential internal documents.

Government officials are actively seeking to undermine pregnancy centers and impede their efforts to serve their communities. It is baffling how anyone—regardless of one’s opinion on abortion—could oppose centers that do so much good.

Pregnancy centers provide material and emotional support to women facing unexpected pregnancies. For mothers who choose life, the centers provide items like diapers, car seats, and baby and maternity clothing—free of charge. Many centers also offer free pregnancy testing, counseling, parenting classes, and adoption referrals. Some have licensed medical staff and provide free medical services, including ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment, and abortion pill reversal.

These government officials say they’re “pro-choice.” But their actions force every regretful woman to follow the same path: to go through with her abortion. They’re robbing from women the freedom to change their minds and choose life for their unborn babies. ADF is standing up to their politically motivated attacks.

Women like Mackenna deserve to be empowered with information, options, and support, and that’s what pregnancy centers provide. These centers save lives and families, and they give vulnerable women the confidence to look toward the future with hope.

When Chelsea treated Mackenna in her clinic, she wrote the word “HOPE” on the ultrasound image of Mackenna’s unborn baby. By choosing abortion pill reversal under Chelsea’s loving and expert care, Mackenna saved her daughter’s life. Every woman, and child, deserves this same chance. And every healthcare professional and pregnancy center deserves the chance to fully support women and families without fear of government censorship, bullying, or harassment.

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Allison Pope serves as legal counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal).

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.