 |
| Robert Califf photo credit: Christopher Michel / Flickr |
Califf previously served as the FDA commissioner under former President Obama. In 2016, under Califf's direction, the agency extended the use of the abortion pill regimen. This allowed abortionists to prescribe abortion pills to end the lives of unborn children up to ten weeks old (up from seven).
During a hearing, Indiana Sen. Mike Braun referenced a recent study that used Medicaid data from 17 states that allow taxpayer-funded abortions. That study found that the rate of abortion-related ER visits following use of the abortion pill increased 507% from 2002-2015.
Referencing the fact that Califf relaxed regulations governing the use of abortion pills during the previous time he acted as FDA commissioner, Braun asked Califf, “Do you think we need to be in that relaxed kind of interpretation of that particular approach or is this something you’re going to listen to current information… so that you give… a full kind of consideration of that particular methodology of abortions?”
Califf refused to discuss his past decisions or speak about whether he believed abortion pill regulations should be loosened further. Instead, he talked about how the FDA was currently reevaluating its rules governing the prescription of abortion pills. “I’m not involved in that particular reevaluation, but I can assure you that the staff will be looking at the latest data and applying the best science and make the best possible decision,” Califf stated. “I’ve got confidence in that staff, and I know them well.”
