Democratic Senators Call Walgreens’ Decision Not to Sell Abortion Pill to Some States ‘Pandering’ to ‘Extremism’

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.On Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D.Mass.) wrote a letter asking Rosalind Brewer to clarify and express her concerns. “grave concern” Information about the recently-announced distribution plan for abortion pills.

The letter is (pdf) followed recent news that Walgreens, the second-largest pharmacy chain in the United States, made the decision not to dispense the pills—either by mail or at its brick-and-mortar locations—in any of the 20-plus states where “extremist, right-wing” According to the letter, Republican attorneys general threatened legal action against the company for sending the pills into their states.

The letter stated that medical abortion is still legal in some Republican-led States.

“We were extraordinarily concerned by reports last week indicating that your company appeared to be pandering to this extremism. … The law is clear that medication abortion is legal in Kansas, Iowa, Montana, and Alaska—all states where it appeared that Walgreens, in response to saber-rattling from anti-abortion extremists—would not be providing it,” It was the following:

“The refusal to dispense a medication that is legal and safe to patients in need would be a betrayal of your customers, and your commitment to ‘champion the health and well-being of every community in America.'”

The letter, signed by Warren and five other Democratic senators—Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.)—listed seven demands for clarification to be answered by March 14.

The demands were made to know if Walgreens would complete certification under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to dispense abortion pills and, if yes, how and where it will dispense them.

Senators also wanted to know about the recent company policy concerning drug distribution. They asked who was consulted and gave their approval.

Walgreens responded to the March 6th protest by launching a Walgreens store in response. Feb. 1 letter Released by the 20 Republican general attorneys, statement It clarified its position in relation to FDA approval and distribution of abortion pills (or mifepristone)

“We want to be very clear about what our position has always been: Walgreens plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so. Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws,” The company also wrote.

However, this clarification was not enough to satisfy many Democratic-led States. This led to criticism and backlash. There were calls to Walgreens for a rescinding of their recent decision as well as to boycott the entire pharmacy chain.

On March 3, Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker met the top team of the company, which has its headquarters in Deerfield (Illinois), and urged them to reconsider their policy.

This meeting took place a day following the appointment of the governor called Walgreens “awful corporation” for denying “women across the nation … the right to access healthcare they are legally entitled to.”

Pritzker recalled details from his meeting with the pharmaceutical giant during CBS’s “The View” segment. “Face the Nation” April 5.

“On a broader scale, we should just recognize that these pharmacies need to protect women’s health. That is the business that they should be in,” He said. “And so in states where it’s legal to have an abortion and legal to sell an abortion pill, they should still be doing it, and I’ve told them that.”

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newson in a Twitter post On Monday, it was: “California won’t be doing business with @walgreens—or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk. We’re done.”

Walgreens currently seeks FDA certification and hasn’t yet dispensing the abortion pill at any of its locations, or via the mail. The company stressed this in its Feb. 6 response letter To the Republican Attorneys General.

“What we’re talking about hasn’t even happened,” Alina Salganicoff (senior vice president, and director for Women’s Health Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation) told Yahoo Finance. “This is more about how will this affect access in the future.”

According According to Planned Parenthood’s Guttmacher Institute, (GI), an independent research organization, abortion pills accounted for 54% of U.S. abortions in 2022.

Mifepristone was approved by the FDA for medical abortion during seven weeks of gestation in 2000. The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 for medical abortion during seven weeks of pregnancy. However, GI states that the drug may be used occasionally. “safely off label” for pregnancies after 10 weeks.

Mifepristone, a drug that inhibits the hormone progesterone is required for a pregnant woman to have a normal pregnancy. Between 24 and 48 hours after, it is followed by misoprostol. The second drug causes the uterus contracting and releasing the foetus. These drugs are what we call “The combination of the drug”the abortion pill.”

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