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| Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) |
The new law states, “A manufacturer, supplier, pharmacy, physician, qualified physician, or other people may not provide an abortion-inducing drug via courier, delivery, or mail service.”
Additionally, the law requires abortion businesses to report all chemical abortions to the state. The forms for these reports will show which physician provided the abortion drug, and they will show whether the woman experiences an adverse event.
Abortionists who violate the law can face a Class E felony charge and a fine of up to $50,000.
Tennessee is the most recent state to ban mail delivery of abortion drugs. This issue became prominent in the Spring of 2021 when the FDA "temporarily" suspended safety regulations prohibiting the mail distribution of the drugs. The Biden FDA made the changes permanent in December, driving states to regulate the drugs themselves.
The at-home DIY abortions encouraged by mail-delivered abortion pills can pose significant health risks to women—especially women who take the pills later in pregnancy or women with undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies.
