Picture a young woman living in a rural area. She’s just learned she’s pregnant. She’s scared. She has no support. In desperation, she turns to one of dozens of websites offering abortion pills by mail. No ultrasound, no physical exam, no confirmation of how far along she is.
She’s told the pills are “very safe,” and the process will feel like “a heavy period.” But instead of a discreet, manageable experience, she winds up in severe pain, bleeding heavily. Alone. Her bathtub fills with blood. She delivers the baby. She keeps bleeding. There’s no transportation, no nearby hospital, no follow-up. And the anonymous provider on the internet is nowhere to be found.
This isn’t a rare or hypothetical story. As an OBGYN hospitalist, I’ve encountered situations like this. Over and over.
