On Friday, Thomas More Society attorney Tom Brejcha, along with representatives from several pro-life organizations, testified at the Iowa Medical Board hearing to argue against the performance of "telemed" abortions in the state. The Thomas More Society submitted a letter from special counsel Paul Benjamin Linton that outlined the case against this type of abortion, in which a patient is administered an abortion-inducing drug, RU-486, after meeting with a physician remotely via video conference.
"Telemedicine abortions are a clear violation of Iowa law, as an abortion can only be performed by a physician, and the drugs used to induce abortion can only be administered in a physician's office," said Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, who appeared at the hearing at the request of several Iowa pro-life organizations and leaders. "We hope the Iowa Medical Board will properly honor the law of the state and public health will not be put at risk by allowing remote control abortions."
Under current Iowa law, the performance of an abortion by anyone other than a physician is a Class "C" felony. Brejcha adds that "telemed abortions" flout the protocol for administration of the drugs approved by the FDA, Mifeprex and misoprostol.
The chairman of the Board, Dr. Siroos Shirazi, announced after hearing the arguments that the Board will take all comments into consideration and render a ruling, which could come at the Board's October meeting.
Contact: Stephanie Lewis
Source: Thomas More SocietyDate Published: August 20, 2010
