Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is set to blame abortion laws for deaths resulting in known complications of abortion pills in an upcoming speech to try to stir up the women’s vote; however, the real story is that pro-life activists have been trying to warn of the dangers of abortion pills for years.
In 2003, 18-year-old Holly Patterson died of septic shock after taking the mifepristone abortion pill. Despite her father’s efforts to educate women about the dangers of abortion pills, few know about the life and death risks. His website AbortionPillRisks.org has been censored by search engine companies like Google. When you type abortion pill risks into Google, a Planned Parenthood page comes up that falsely claims the pills are safe:
Medication abortion is very safe. In fact, it’s safer than many other medicines like penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra. Serious problems are rare, but like all medicines, there can be risks.
Given that it would be almost impossible for penicillin to cause death by sepsis, and the likely low rate of reporting for abortion pill deaths, this statement from Planned Parenthood is specious.
Although marketed as a safe alternative to surgical procedures, these medications can lead to severe health complications. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there have been numerous reported deaths and thousands of hospitalizations associated with mifepristone since its approval.
Here are the stories of the two women Kamala Harris is using for her political speech:
Amber Thurman
The devastating story of Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother from Georgia, sheds light on the harsh realities and dangers associated with abortion pills. Her death following the use of these medications raises serious concerns about their safety and the implications for women’s health.
Faced with an unexpected pregnancy with twins, she sought an abortion. However, in her quest for an abortion, she turned to pills—mifepristone and misoprostol—hoping to terminate her pregnancy safely.
After taking the abortion pills, Amber experienced severe complications. Days later, she suffered intense pain, excessive bleeding, and ultimately, she lost consciousness. Her condition worsened rapidly, and she was rushed to Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge, Georgia. A delay in treatment, claimed to be because of Georgia’s abortion law, is being blamed for her death, although it was the abortion pill treatment that caused her sepsis in the first place.
Amber’s tragic experience serves as a horrifying reminder of the inherent dangers associated with abortion pills. In Amber’s case, the pills failed to expel all fetal tissue from her body, leading to a severe infection. This is not an isolated incident; many women face similar risks, after falsely assuming that abortion pills are safe. The reality is, both abortion pills and surgical abortions have serious risks, including death.
Candi Miller
The recent death of Candi Miller has also brought attention to the severe risks associated with certain methods of terminating pregnancies. Miller, 41, died after taking a combination of abortion pills and potent painkillers, including the opioid fentanyl, which led to fatal complications.
Miller, who suffered from lupus, diabetes, and hypertension, faced significant health challenges. When she unintentionally became pregnant in 2022, she sought to terminate the pregnancy due to fears related to Georgia’s abortion legislation.
According to an autopsy report, Miller did not expel all fetal tissue after taking the abortion pills, leading to a serious infection known as sepsis. The condition requires prompt medical intervention to prevent severe complications or death. The family later claimed Miller did not seek medical attention “due to the current legislation on pregnancies and abortions,” although it is unclear if her fentanyl use was also a concern.
Abortion Is Not 100% Safe
These two cases should be sparking discussions about the inherent dangers of abortion pills; instead, they will be used to justify abortions. Health experts emphasize that these medications are generally considered safe, but they carry serious risks such as incomplete abortions and infections like sepsis, which can have fatal outcomes if not promptly treated.
The sad reality is that women like Amber and Candi are often misled about the risks associated with abortion pills. In the pursuit of reproductive rights, the potential dangers to women’s health can be overlooked or downplayed. It is essential to raise awareness about these risks and advocate for policies that prioritize the health and safety of women.
Surgical abortions also have complications that can lead to death. Even in states where abortion is illegal, many abortion clinics are run in sub-par facilities that are unhygienic. Ironically, many abortion activists have actively fought against laws that would require abortion clinics to improve health standards and maintain a doctor with emergency room privileges.
Here are a few examples:
Texas: In 2013, Texas passed House Bill 2 (HB2), which required abortion clinics to meet the same building standards as ambulatory surgical centers and mandated that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The law was challenged and ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court in 2016 in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. Activists argued that these requirements were unnecessary and would lead to the closure of many clinics, limiting access to safe abortions.
Louisiana: A similar law in Louisiana required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. This law was also challenged and went to the Supreme Court. In June Medical Services v. Russo (2020), the court ruled that the law placed an undue burden on women seeking abortions.
Alabama: In 2019, Alabama passed the Human Life Protection Act, which effectively banned most abortions. Prior to this, Alabama had laws requiring abortion clinics to comply with certain health standards, such as having hallways wide enough for a stretcher. Abortion rights activists argued that these requirements were designed to shut down clinics rather than improve safety.
If abortion activists truly cared about women’s health, they would be advocating for higher standards at abortion clinics and warning women about the dangers and risks of abortion and abortion pills.
How to Avoid an Abortion
Most people are in agreement about allowing abortion in rare cases of rape or incest. For women in consensual sexual relationships, here are a few easy ways to avoid the need for an abortion:
Abstain from intercourse.
The most effective way to avoid pregnancy is to refrain from penis/vagina sexual activity altogether, eliminating the risk entirely.Use birth control pills properly and consistently.
Taking birth control pills as directed can significantly reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy, but missing doses can decrease their effectiveness.Add multiple layers of protection, such as a combination of birth control pills and condoms.
Using both birth control pills and condoms together provides extra protection against pregnancy and also helps prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Employ the rhythm method (most effective in combination with birth control).
Tracking your menstrual cycle and avoiding sex during fertile days can be more effective when combined with other contraceptives, though it requires careful monitoring and discipline.Choose stable relationships with men who can be there as a father so the need to get rid of the child is lessened.
Being in a committed relationship with a supportive partner can provide a stable environment for raising a child, potentially reducing stress and emotional burdens.Obtain permanent sterilization in the form of hysterectomy or tubes tied (do note all medical procedures have risks).
For those who are certain they do not want children, permanent sterilization is an option but comes with medical risks and should be considered carefully after consulting with a healthcare provider.If your life will be in danger from having a child, consider getting your tubes tied or having your partner get a vasectomy. Use online fundraising to pay for it if necessary.
If pregnancy poses a significant health risk, permanent solutions like tubal ligation or a partner's vasectomy can be considered; online fundraising platforms can assist in covering the associated medical expenses.
With so many options these days, abortion should be only the last resort, not the first resort. But women have been lied to that abortion options such as the abortion pill are safe and easy, when in reality they can at minimum cause a lot of pain and at maximum, kill. This leads to less than careful use of birth control and an assumption that a few pills could save the day, when in reality they can end not just the life of the fetus, but the woman’s life too.
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