As Washington implements the nation's most lenient policy allowing pharmacists to prescribe mifepristone, a medication used for abortion, other states are considering following suit, The New York Times reported Jan. 7.
In 2024, Washington became the first state to allow pharmacists to prescribe mifepristone, which the FDA approved in 2000 as part of a two-drug regimen to terminate a pregnancy.
Between Oct. 31 and Nov. 26, the state piloted this policy. During the pilot, 10 Washington pharmacists prescribed abortion pills to 43 patients, according to the Pharmacist Abortion Access Project.
Fifteen states have restrictions on medication abortion, such as bans on mail-ordering the pills, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
About 40 states allow pharmacists to prescribe certain medications, such as those for minor conditions like cold sores. Each state's law varies, but "Washington state's is considered the most lenient, requiring only that doctors approve the overall prescribing protocol and training," the Times reported.
Don Downing, a professor emeritus of clinical pharmacy at Seattle's University of Washington, trained pharmacists to prescribe mifepristone and conduct follow-ups with patients.
"We did not have any seriously negative outcomes at all, but we had a full network of other resources available in case that happened, so that we could take care of them," Mr. Downing told the Times.
Anti-abortion activists have described the policy as unsafe and reckless, while supporters say it expands access to necessary healthcare services. Read more here.