AMA warns ‘patient health at risk’ after Roe calls for ‘clearer guidance’ on state abortion laws

The American Medical Association (AMA) and three other health organizations warned on Thursday that patients’ health is at risk after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and called on government officials across the country to issue “clear guidance.” Interpretation of their abortion laws.

The AMA, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Association of Health-System Pharmacists and the National Association of Community Pharmacists said in a release that health care providers face a “confusing” legal landscape for abortion policies following the Dobbs & Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Down with federal protections for abortion.

“Physicians and pharmacists need clear guidance from state drug and pharmacy boards, agencies and policymakers to support the prescribing and dispensing of medically necessary drugs that may be affected by this new legal and regulatory environment,” the groups said. “We are deeply concerned that without such guidance, our patients could lose access to care and suffer irreparable harm.”

The organizations said many questions remain about how state abortion bans will be interpreted broadly and affect providers’ ability to serve patients.

After Roe was overturned, more than a dozen states took steps to ban or severely restrict abortion. In most of these states, medical providers can face jail time for violating their laws.

The organizations say many state laws prohibit providers from prescribing “abortion drugs” and other similar terms. However, the laws are not clear if only drugs prescribed for abortion are prohibited or if a drug prescribed for another reason causes an abortion.

The teams’ members and patients reported that this uncertainty was disrupting care. He said they are presenting new challenges in finding patients who need these drugs for reasons unrelated to pregnancy.

“The health of our patients is at risk if they cannot find drugs that are proven to be safe and effective,” he said. “As physicians and pharmacists, we consider patient safety a top priority and are deeply concerned that continuity of care is being disrupted.

The organizations said state boards of medicine and pharmacy, agencies and policymakers should ensure that patients have continuity of care and that members understand their legal and licensing obligations.