Study Finds Mifepristone Risks Greater than FDA Reports

A new study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) has reignited controversy surrounding the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone, with findings suggesting that serious adverse events may be far more common than previously reported by the FDA. The EPPC study, which analyzed insurance claims for over 865,000 mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023, found that approximately 10.93% of women experienced complications such as sepsis, hemorrhaging, or other serious health events—figures significantly higher than the FDA's longstanding estimate of less than 0.5%. Critics argue that the FDA relied on outdated and limited clinical trial data in its original safety assessments and subsequent deregulation of the drug. However, some sources dispute the EPPC study's validity, labeling it as partisan and warning that anti-abortion organizations are using such research to justify potential restrictions on medication abortion. The FDA's new commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary, stated that while there are currently no plans to restrict mifepristone, the agency remains open to reviewing new data and could take action if significant safety concerns emerge. This ongoing debate underscores the deep divisions over abortion pill access and the reliability of safety data used in regulatory decision-making.