Iowa Bans Telemedical Abortions, Requiring In-Person Doctor Presence
The Iowa College Board has voted to significantly change abortion access in the state. As of Nov. 6, women in Iowa can no longer have abortions without being in the physical presence of a doctor, ending the nation's largest telemedical abortion program.
The new ruling, effective 35 days after publication in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin, requires a woman seeking an abortion to be examined in person by a physician and receive follow-up care. This ends the telemedical abortion process, where a woman could terminate a pregnancy from home with the guidance of a physician who authorized a local clinic to give her abortion-inducing drugs.
The decision was made by the Iowa College Board, consisting of seven physicians and three public members appointed by the governor's office. Pro-choice advocates argue that this move is a political attack aimed at restricting access to abortion in Iowa. The Board's decision mirrors a growing trend across the country to limit abortion access.
The ruling will impact thousands of women, particularly those in rural areas who relied on the telemedical abortion program for access to abortion services. The new regulations require a woman to be present with a physician when an abortion-inducing drug is prescribed, effectively ending the telemedical abortion process in Iowa. The decision can be opposed by a petition or lawsuit.
