What's the best way to respond to the new Texas abortion law? If women believe they have the right to control their own bodies, free from government interference, what choices do they have?

I AM NOT A DOCTOR, NURSE, OR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. I AM SHARING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE FOR DISCUSSION AND SELF EDUCATION ONLY. I DO NOT ADVOCATE THAT ANY WOMAN CURRENTLY PREGNANT END THEIR PREGNANCY. ANY DECISION REGARDING PREGNANCIES SHOULD BE MADE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

RU486 requires a prescription. Is that also true for Misoprostol? Is it available OTC anywhere?

@LuckyGuy – When purchased online this medication can be obtained without a prescription from several sources.

For further discussion :

This method of ending early pregnancy is very common worldwide because mifepristone is more costly and not available in many regions.

If you have access to misoprostol only, you will need at least 12 misoprostol pills of 200mcg each if you are less than 13 weeks pregnant.

Misoprostol drug information/guide :
https://www.ipas.org/our-work/abortion-self-care/abortion-with-pills/how-to-buy-abortion-pills-that-are-safe-and-effective/

https://iwhc.org/resources/abortion-self-administered-misoprostol-guide-women/

Misoprostol sources online :
https://www.rxbrandmeds24.com/buy/online/Misoprostol.shtml

Canadian pharmacy :
https://medsoffers.net/search/?q=Misoprostol&wid=239&aid=aji

Standard Warnings :

Misoprostol can cause birth defects, premature birth, uterine rupture, miscarriage, or incomplete miscarriage and dangerous uterine bleeding. Do not use misoprostol if you are pregnant.

If you are able to become pregnant, you will need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. You will also need to use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy during treatment.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use misoprostol if you are allergic to misoprostol or other prostaglandins, or if you are pregnant.

To make sure misoprostol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or other intestinal problems;

• heart disease; or

• if you are dehydrated.

Possible Side Effects: Diarreha, stomach cramps, or nausea may occur. Serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

If I lived in Texas, I’d probably move the fuck out of Texas.

@jca2 – Small steps, but maybe a good start.

I’m not sure if that would work. The new law outsources enforcement of the abortion ban to private citizens who can file lawsuits against anyone aiding and abetting the procedure while collecting a $10,000 bounty for doing so. Supplying Misoprotol could be seen as illegal under the new act.

It’s an underhand tactic to undermine Roe v Wade and there seems no reason why more liberal states couldn’t do the same and allow citizen enforcement of handgun bans or vaccine mandates.

@flutherother – The “outsourcing” enforcement of the Texas law applies only within their state and local jurisdictions. No Texas statute is lawful or enforceable outsitde their borders.

@Nomore_lockout, and @Everyone- It should be no surprise that reasonable people may feel & react to this law in the same way you are. Regardless of provisions that limit enforcement of the Texas statute to actions by private citizens in civil court, it’s apparent the law itself was writren to extend government intervention and control into what are commonly understood to be deeply personal decisions regarding moral choices and health.

BUT – Texas statute SB 8 also sets a few limits on enforcement. It’s designed to focus liability on doctors, clinics, and hospitals that may perform or induce abortions, NOT individual women who choose to end a pregnancy. Here’s the actual language from the statute :

*Sec. 171.206.  CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER;
(b)  This subchapter may not be construed to:                
(1)  authorize the initiation of a cause of action against or the prosecution of a woman on whom an abortion is   performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced in violation of this subchapter*

*Sec. 171.209.  CIVIL LIABILITY:  UNDUE BURDEN DEFENSE LIMITATIONS;
(f)  Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendant’s personal   constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 171.208, and a court may not award relief under Section 171.208 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of state or federal constitutional rights that personally belong to the defendant.*

It’s possible to see the above provisions as allowing women who have reason to end a pregnancy to do so by taking legally apporoved and obtained medications that will safely induce an abortion, without the supervision or support of any medical professionals.

I think a general boycott of Texas businesses and companies that have locations in Texas might be effective. Texas has recently been seeing explosive tech growth, that could easily be reversed with enough public pressure. The only thing that extremists politicians love more than controlling the bodies of women is getting those juicy campaign donations from business leaders and positions on their boards after their term is over. I could picture Apple for example saying something like: “We’re shutting down our Texas locations because our female staff will not be denied autonomy over their bodies.”

As for the drugs you mention, I have concerns about the safety factor with them potentially being taken without the supervision of a physician. I really don’t know anything about them, and I’d imagine it’s safer than s coat hanger.

@JLoon Thanks for publishing that information. I’m sure it will help someone.

This brings to mind “Lysistrata” – the ancient Greek story where the women refuse to have sex unless the men end their fighting.

While looking up the correct spelling I see that I am not the only person to think of this.
Bette Midler Proposes Texas Sex Boycott In Response To Abortion Law

“The cruelty of the #GOP is endless. We are suffering COVID-19, hurricanes, apocalyptic flooding, wildfires from hell, joblessness, homelessness, evictions, racial strife, and they pick this hideous time to pile on yet another shock to women, by taking away their right to choose.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) September 2, 2021”

I agree with Midler, she’s spot on. That said, I don’t have a lot of use for the Dems either. I don’t see them doing a lot to combat this bull crap from the Right.

@LuckyGuy, @Nomore_lockout – I can hear those cowboys whining already. But when politicians push women into this kind of corner, that’s what you get.

@JLoon And if the man “forces the issue” it’s time to call “rape”.

Then toss them in prison for life, NO chance of parole.

I agree wih @gorillapaws. Full boycott.

A full boycott might actually work. I may be being to optimistic, but hit Repubs where it hurts, the wallet, I’d bet they’ll be singing another tune.

@JLoon “I can hear those cowboys whining already” Shhh, don’t give our Einstein Legislators any bright ideas. They might make it punishable by death, for women to refuse sex with their hubby / boyfriend. I really wouldn’t put anything past those ass clowns. Take heart though, I’m sure that if some woman gets tied to a bed and raped, the politicos will send her their “Thoughts and prayers”. Like the do for every school massacre.

None.

It’s worth reading this article which describes what happened in Romania when Ceausescu outlawed access to abortion and contraception in a bid to boost the country’s population.

They can abstain or do a pregnancy test monthly or use birth control.

@flutherother – Thanks for sharing that report. It’s information more people should have as they think about what’s really behind laws like Texas SB 8.

My own feeling is that whenever government tries legislate morality, regulate sex, or contol free choice they always invade privacy, undermine freedom, and destroy lives. What happened in Romania can happen in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, or anywhere political extremists abuse basic human rights to hold onto power.

For reference, the link shared by flutherother above connects to a 5/16/2019 article in Foreign Policy magazine headlined “What Actually Happens When a Country Bans Abortion”. It reviews the effect of Decree 770 issued by Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1966. The rule put in place a complete ban on abortions, and enforced criminal sentences for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and women acting to end pregnancy for any reason.

According to numbers in the report, by the end of Ceausescu’s regime in 1989 :

• More than 170,000 children were confined in state run orphanages, suffering from abuse and substandard health care.

• Over 10,000 women died as a result of more than 7 million illegal abortions performed by untrained black market providers.

• Infant mortality increased to 83 per 1000 births. More than eight times the average for the rest of Europe.

….. all because of “pro life” people.