In September, the FDA approved the use of the ru486 abortion pill in the U.S. For those who had battled for that right over the last decade-plus, it was a major victory. Supporters believe that this decision will transform abortion in the U.S. by making it more private and accessible. Opponents of such pills still have many concerns, but this pill, in particular, is only usable in the earliest period of pregnancy.
With 2012, comes a slate of new abortion laws across the country, many in response to this decision. For instance, in New Hampshire, underage girls must inform a parent or a judge prior to using any form of abortion, including the pill. In states like California, the rules are much more lax, and soon after the FDA approved the abortion pill california residents had relatively easy access via medical professionals.
In fact, California is one of the states that supporters of new abortion technology use as a model. This is a sensitive topic, and understandably, many people have concerns. In California, many of the most common concerns have not become a reality. The hope is that success in states like California will help to allay the fears of fence sitters and those who may eventually be won over.
On January 6, however, a criminal case in Michigan underscored one of the common concerns associated with the morning after pill. According to a Grand Rapids teen, her teacher, Jon Jungkind, had intercourse with her, and then purchased the abortion pill and forced her to take it.
Proponents of the pill continue to assert that the rights of the law-abiding individual trump the potential for misuse. They also point to the many successes related to the pill, such as those in California. Nevertheless, this is a difficult story, and one that weighs heavily on us regardless of which side of the fence we stand on.