In a stark examination of the dangers surrounding the availability of abortion pills, Janet Morana highlights a troubling trend: increasingly, men are exerting coercive control over women regarding reproductive choices, leading to tragic outcomes. The data presented reveals that homicide is now the leading cause of death among pregnant women, a disturbing statistic that underscores the urgency of this issue. Morana provides a string of harrowing examples where expectant mothers became victims of individuals who sought to dictate their choices.
Take the case of Kaylin Fiengo, just eighteen years old, who was shot in a park because her boyfriend wanted her to terminate her pregnancy. Donovan Faison’s actions have led to a first-degree murder conviction and a potential death sentence. Similarly, Raquiah King found herself in a fatal situation after refusing an abortion, resulting in her boyfriend, Navy Lt. Emmanuel Coble, receiving two life sentences for killing her and her unborn child.
Morana illustrates a chilling reality: many women face life-or-death decisions driven by coercion from partners or family members. She raises the alarm about the availability and accessibility of abortion pills—specifically mifepristone—stressing that the changes in regulations under the current administration have made it alarmingly easy for men to force these pills on pregnant women without their consent.
Since April 2021, when key regulations were altered, women can obtain prescription abortion pills without ever meeting a healthcare provider in person. This shift has made it easier for men to procure these medications and slip them into drinks or food without the woman’s knowledge, as seen in cases like Justin Banta, who is charged with capital murder after allegedly drugging his girlfriend with mifepristone disguised in cookies.
Men’s entitlement to make choices for women—fueled by the now more accessible chemical abortion—has raised serious ethical and safety concerns. Morana notes that cases where men have administered pills during intimacy without consent have been documented, highlighting an alarming trend of minimizing women’s autonomy. One particularly disturbing example involves Dr. Hassan-James Abbas, who force-fed pills to a woman and faced no criminal charges despite his actions resulting in the loss of the unborn child.
The implications of these cases reveal a larger conversation about control, autonomy, and the recognition of the rights of both mothers and unborn children. Morana points to the alarming rise in these instances, urging a more thorough investigation into the safety of mifepristone and the broader implications of unrestricted access to chemical abortion. She notes that numerous cases remain unreported, highlighting how many women may suffer in silence from the adverse effects of forced abortions.
The FDA’s lack of transparency regarding adverse effects related to mifepristone deepens the concern. Since the drug’s approval, reported fatalities among women include thirty-six known deaths while many more incidents may go unrecognized. Morana’s frustrations echo through her call for a comprehensive evaluation of the drug, urging lawmakers—currently supported by a significant number of Congress members—to renew in-person dispensing requirements for abortion pills.
In closing, Morana drives home the importance of reassessing the policies surrounding access to abortion pills. The spate of violent incidents against women who oppose abortions highlights a dire need for accountability and protection of women’s rights. Legal abortion, paired with the ease of access to chemical termination methods, raises serious questions about safety and autonomy, calling for a serious discussion on how to balance the rights of women against the potential for abuse from those who would impose their will on them.
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