An Ohio judge has issued a temporary restraining order allowing non-physicians to distribute abortion-inducing drugs via telemedicine, a decision pro-life advocates warn could endanger women’s lives by bypassing critical medical oversight.
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David C. Young’s ruling on July 9 marks the third time he has blocked a state law requiring in-person physician visits for prescribing mifepristone, a drug used in chemical abortions that carries significant health risks.
The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses challenging Ohio’s 2021 law, which mandates that only physicians can prescribe abortion drugs and that patients must receive an in-person examination. Judge Young’s order allows advanced practice clinicians—such as nurse practitioners and midwives—to prescribe mifepristone through virtual appointments and permits pharmacies to mail the drugs without an in-person visit.
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“The harm to Plaintiffs and their patients far outweighs any harm to the public or the state in delaying the enforcement of [the law] for 14 days,” Young wrote in his ruling.
But Young ignores the harm to babies, killing them, and the harm to women, killing and injuring them.
Pro-life groups, including Ohio Right to Life, condemned the decision, arguing it prioritizes abortion access over patient safety. Amy Burk, director of legal affairs for Ohio Right to Life, said the ruling “puts women’s lives at risk by allowing dangerous abortion drugs to be distributed without a doctor’s direct supervision.”
She cited studies showing that chemical abortions, which involve mifepristone and misoprostol, result in four times more complications than surgical abortions, including severe bleeding, infection, and incomplete abortions requiring surgical intervention.
Burk emphasized that in-person physician evaluations are critical to screen for conditions like ectopic pregnancies, which can be life-threatening if undiagnosed before taking abortion drugs.
“These drugs are not safe without proper medical oversight,” she said. “This ruling removes a vital safeguard for women.”
Judge Young’s temporary order, set to expire on July 23, unless extended, also allows pharmacies to ship abortion drugs directly to customers, further reducing oversight. Pro-life advocates argue this decision exacerbates the risks of chemical abortions, especially for vulnerable populations.
“The abortion industry is pushing a narrative of convenience while ignoring the real dangers to women,” said Kristi Hamrick, spokesperson for Students for Life of America. “Chemical abortions are not a simple pill—they can cause severe complications, and without a doctor’s examination, women are left to navigate those risks alone.”
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, defending the state law, has vowed to continue fighting the case.
“The state has a compelling interest in protecting maternal health,” Yost’s office stated in court filings, noting that in-person requirements ensure proper medical evaluation and informed consent.
The law also mandates that physicians confirm the gestational age of the baby and rule out contraindications, steps pro-life advocates say are impossible through virtual consultations.
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Author: Steven Ertelt
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