(The Lion) — A major pro-life organization is launching a new database to track reports of abortion-pill abuse, including cases in which women say they faced pressure to abort or received abortion drugs without their knowledge.
Heartbeat International announced the new abortion pill incident tracker this month. The organization said it will collect publicly reported cases from across the country involving abortion drug mifepristone and make them available in one place.
The launch comes as chemical abortion has become the most common method of abortion in the United States. Women in many states can now get abortion pills through telehealth appointments and receive them by mail, including in states that have banned abortion, which has caused some states to crack down on that practice.
Supporters say the system expands access to abortion. Critics argue abortion ends a life, that chemical abortion often endangers the mother’s health and that it makes abuse easier to carry out behind closed doors.
Heartbeat International says the tracker focuses on cases involving coercion, deception and alleged poisoning incidents. The organization hopes lawmakers, journalists and researchers will use the information when examining abortion policy.
“We are hearing from more women who feel pressured into abortions they do not want, many coerced or forced abortions, and we are increasingly hearing from women who believe they are being poisoned with abortion drugs,” Christa Brown, senior director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International, said in the announcement.
Brown said women who contact the organization often feel isolated and unsure where to seek help.
“Many of these women are frightened, confused, and unsure where to turn. They often are afraid that no one will believe them,” she said.
Heartbeat International operates the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, which connects women with medical providers after they begin a chemical abortion but then decide they want to continue their pregnancies. The organization says reports received through that network helped inspire the new project.
The debate over abortion pills has intensified since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. While many states have moved to expand abortion access, pro-life groups have increasingly focused on chemical abortion, arguing the drugs present risks that the pro-abortion side often overlooks in political discussions.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, introduced legislation in March to bar the use of mifepristone for chemical abortions and allow women harmed by the drug to seek compensation. A study last year found roughly 11% of women “experience at least one serious adverse event,” such as hemorrhaging, infection or sepsis, within 45 days of taking mifepristone.
Brown said the organization believes concerns about coercion deserve more public attention.
“Every woman deserves to make decisions about her pregnancy free from coercion, threats, manipulation, violence, or deception,” Brown said. “When abortion drugs become increasingly accessible outside traditional medical settings, opportunities for misuse also increase.”
Heartbeat officials said many incidents may never become public because women are often reluctant to report abuse when the person involved is a boyfriend, spouse or family member.
The organization will update the database as additional cases become public through court records, police investigations and news reports.
