Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a law on Saturday that will require abortion clinics to tell women about an abortion pill reversal process that potentially could save their baby’s life.
The new law, scheduled to take effect in May, would make Utah the third state to require that women be informed about the abortion pill reversal technology, following Arkansas and South Dakota, according to the Associated Press.
When a pregnant woman takes the dangerous RU-486 abortion pill, there is a chance that the abortion drug can be reversed and her baby’s life saved. The legislation would require abortion facilities to inform women that if they take the first drug in the two-step abortion process, there is a procedure that may be able to stop the abortion and save their baby’s life.
The legislation passed the state House with strong support in February.
State Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, who sponsored the bill, said those who are pro-life and pro-choice on abortion should support the legislation.
“If you’re pro-choice, I would say that it helps you be educated in making the choice,” Stratton said previously. “If you’re pro-life, it gives an opportunity to look at the options if a decision is made to reverse course.”
Planned Parenthood and other abortion activists fought against the legislation, claiming there is not enough evidence to show that the reversal procedure works. Others blasted it as junk science.
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A chemical abortion involves taking the drug mifepristone (RU-486), which blocks the hormone progesterone and makes the uterus inhospitable to new life. One or two days later, a second drug is taken to induce contractions and expel the unborn baby. The abortion reversal process counteracts the first drug with high doses of progesterone, which allows the baby to continue normal development.
Though the reversal procedure is relatively new, early results show it appears to be safe and effective for mother and child. The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists reported in a practice bulletin that the abortion pill reversal procedure has not led to birth defects.
Dr. Matthew Harrison performed the first-ever abortion pill reversal in 2007. At a press conference in 2015 sponsored by Priests for Life and AAPLOG, Harrison said the baby who was saved is now a healthy, happy girl.
In 2015, Harrison reported more than 213 babies have been saved through the pioneer technology. He said the sooner a woman begins the reversal process after taking the abortion pill, the more likely it is that her child’s life will be saved.
The abortion pill reversal program has a network of about 300 doctors world-wide to help women who call their 24/7 hotline. More information is available at AbortionPillReversal.com.
