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Faye Flam

Abortion Pills Would Be No Panacea If Roe v. Wade Falls

Pills could prevent many but not all procedures.

Mifepristone, the first of two pills commonly prescribed to induce an abortion, is currently legal in the U.S. — Mifepristone, the first of two pills commonly prescribed to induce an abortion, is currently legal in the U.S.
Photographer: Phil Walter/Getty Images

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July 20, 2018, 3:00 PM UTC

Experts disagree on the likelihood that the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade, the legal case that established a right to abortion in the U.S. But they agree that even if that remains federal law, state-by-state regulations could continue to prevent women from receiving an abortion in a clinic or doctor’s office. That won’t end abortions, of course.

Some women will undergo illegal and dangerous procedures outside the legitimate medical system, as was once common in the U.S. But now many women will have an additional option: abortion pills.