Miscarriage treatment, abortion pill availability at risk for Wisconsinites after conflicting rulings

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- With uncertainty swirling about the future of a key abortion drug across the county, local organizations are weighing in on what impact this could have on Wisconsinites.

People seeking an abortion will still have to travel to other states, such as Illinois or Minnesota, to get access to mifepristone, known as the abortion pill, due to Wisconsin's 174-year-old abortion ban in effect.

And the medication -- at least for now -- is still available to women who experience complications during their pregnancy as it's often paired with other drugs to treat a miscarriage in the Badger State and across the U.S.

However, if the drug is deemed illegal, abortion access advocates in Wisconsin said it could have immediate and widespread consequences.

"While Wisconsin is not an access state, Wisconsinites are traveling to places like Illinois and Minnesota, and the availability of that medication is definitely being put at risk," said Michelle Velasquez, director of legal advocacy for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

"If [mifepristone] is suspended, then doctors might not be able to prescribe that medication for miscarriage management here, so that's an immediate impact."

On Monday, the Justice Department appealed a Texas judge's decision that would block access to mifepristone, one of two medications used in nearly all medication abortions in the U.S.

It comes after dueling rulings from Texas and Washington that put the drug's future in question. Many predict the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide to approve or strike down the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the medication.

The Justice Department is asking to halt the Texas district court judge's ruling to freeze his decision while proceedings continue.

Wisconsin Family Action, an anti-abortion group, praised the possibility of removing mifepristone from shelves, calling the drug "dangerous" and "harmful."

"We categorically reject that there is a right to kill an unborn baby," said Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action. "We're putting women at real risk here and so we're thankful and will be, if this continues to be stopped."

The issue of abortion is back in the spotlight just days after pro-choice advocates celebrated liberals securing a majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Justices are poised to decide the fate of abortion laws once Janet Protasiewicz is sworn into office Aug. 1, giving the court a 4-3 liberal majority for the first time in 15 years.

Protasiewicz heavily centered her campaign around support for reproductive rights after Wisconsin's 1849 law, that permits abortion only to save the life of a mother, was put in place after Roe v. Wade was overturned. She defeated her conservative opponent Daniel Kelly by 11 points.

Velasquez said it's frustrating to see "continued attacks on reproductive freedoms" just days after Protasiewicz's victory.

"We really have to be aware of what's going on nationally and how that may impact any gains we make here in Wisconsin," Velasquez said.