It is used to treat autoimmune disorders, but because it is also used to end ectopic pregnancies...

[ck4829]

Six days after the Supreme Court struck down the right to abortion, lupus patient Becky Schwarz got an unexpected message from her rheumatologist.

“This is a notice to let you know that we are pausing all prescriptions and subsequent refills of methotrexate,” the message read. “This decision has been made in response to the reversal of Roe vs. Wade.”

Schwarz was stunned. Methotrexate is a cheap, common drug prescribed to millions of Americans. Like her, many have rheumatic illnesses. Others take it to treat inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis or cancer.

Yet few are aware that it is used off-label to end ectopic pregnancies, or that it could be restricted by doctors or pharmacists even in states like Virginia that do not ban abortion.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-11/post-roe-many-autoimmune-patients-lose-access-to-gold-standard-drug

[marybourg]

1. Outrageous, nonsensical and must be stopped.

Shame on any doctor who would go so far to orotect herself that she would inflict such stress and potential harm on her patients.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. Biden addressed this yesterday

It is illegal for pharmacists to refuse to fill these scripts.

[c-rational]

3. +1

[Hortensis]

4. THIS. It applies to any pharmacy that receives Medicare and Medicaid payments,

as well as through other federal financial assistance programs. Which is by far most of them.

Here in GA, where a stricter abortion law has been on hold at the appellate level for nearly a year but will probably be released any time, I've ordered a refill of my methotrexate early.

The US Health and Human Services Department Office for Civil Rights sent guidance to more than 60,000 pharmacies across the country with a reminder that under federal civil rights law, pregnancy discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, and that is illegal.

"We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access health care, free of discrimination," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a news release Wednesday. "This includes access to prescription medications for reproductive health and other types of care."

[Rebl2]

5. I have

taken this drug since 1985 for rheumatoid arthritis. I am in my sixties and they damn well better not try to do this to me!