| Philadelphia, PA-June 11, 2025- The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) released its policy recommendations regarding administrating chemical abortions through telemedicine, citing great ethical and medical concerns. The CMA always opposes direct abortion, however these recommendations, “are presented to advocate for common sense changes at both the regulatory level and in the patient-provider setting, in order to ensure that women are given complete and unbiased information to make a life-impacting decision, and to better safeguard women’s rights and health,” the report states. Today, over 60% of abortions are being done with self-administered mifepristone and misoprostol. “Since 2021, the prescribing of the chemical abortion pills has been done increasingly via telemedicine, without an in-person doctor visit, ultrasound or confirmation that the pills are being given to the patient on the call,” said Dr. Kathleen Raviele, retired OB/GYN and CMA Ethics Committee member who helped craft the report. “Women are told chemical abortion is ‘safe and effective’.” Studies in the U.S. have minimized adverse reactions, citing a <1% chance of a complication, but patients are told to go to the emergency room if they have a problem and say they are having a “miscarriage”. However, a new study in the U.S, by Hall and Anderson of an all-payer insurance claims database showed 10.93% of women had a serious adverse event. This finding reflects European studies that have shown a 10 to 20% risk of adverse events that would prompt further medical care, including blood transfusion, treatment for infection and a D&C for an incomplete abortion. “The lack of transparency about the true risks and adverse effects of chemical abortion compromises women’s health, safety, and autonomy,” said Dr. Jean Parker, member of the CMA Ethics Committee. “Telemedicine chemical abortion, without proper safeguards and oversight, places convenience and an abortion-promoting ideology above patient health and well-being.” View full report and recommendations here. |
| ###The Catholic Medical Association is the largest national, physician-led community of Catholic health care. CMA’s mission is to inform, organize, and inspire its members, in steadfast fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church, to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine. Media inquiries, please contact: Nadia Smith Director of Communications [email protected] www.cathmed.org |
