California sues pro-life organizations over claims of abortion pill reversal

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday sued to stop Heartbeat International and RealOptions Obria from promoting a treatment to stop chemical abortions. The organizations say women can reverse a drug-induced abortion by taking a high dose of the hormone progesterone within 72 hours of taking mifepristone—the first of two drugs typically used in a regimen for such an abortion. Bonta said the claims are unproven and violate the state’s false advertising law. Heartbeat International operates pregnancy resource centers around the country. RealOptions runs five pro-life clinics in Northern California.

What have other states said about the treatment? More than 10 states have laws that require abortionists to provide patients with information about reversal options before performing the procedure. Planned Parenthood in June sued Kansas over the state’s requirement, which is part of the Women’s Right to Know Act. In Colorado, the state medical board is considering whether the reversal treatment is considered unprofessional. The medical board’s decision will determine if a law to ban the treatment in Colorado will take effect.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in WORLD Magazine about how pro-life groups are fighting the expansion of abortion pill access.