WASHINGTON — National Right to Life today expressed strong support for the oversight letters issued by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee examining the business practices of manufacturers and distributors of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone, as well as the failure to enforce federal law against illegal online sales.

“These letters raise serious and long-overdue questions about whether federal protocols are being followed—and whether women are being put at risk as a result,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “The American people deserve transparency, accountability, and above all, protection from dangerous and unlawful practices.”

The Senate letters highlight concerns that manufacturers of mifepristone may not be adequately ensuring compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), which is intended to mitigate the risk of serious complications associated with the drug. These safeguards include requirements that prescribers be properly certified, that patients be informed of risks, and that appropriate medical care be available in the event of complications.

However, evidence cited in the letters suggests that online distribution of chemical abortion drugs is undermining these protections. Some online providers appear to prescribe the drugs based on minimal screening, raising concerns about whether they can accurately assess gestational age, diagnose ectopic pregnancies, or ensure access to emergency care.

The letters also document the widespread availability of unapproved and misbranded chemical abortion drugs sold through online retailers in violation of federal law. These drugs may be manufactured overseas, lack proper labeling, and be distributed without any medical oversight—posing significant risks to women’s health.

“Federal law is clear: unapproved and misbranded drugs cannot be sold in the United States,” Tobias said. “Yet these illegal online operations continue to flourish, often encouraging women to conceal critical medical information if complications arise. That is a direct threat to patient safety.”

The letters also raise concerns about the erosion of safeguards in recent years, including the removal of in-person dispensing requirements and the elimination of reporting requirements for non-fatal adverse events. These changes have made it more difficult to fully assess the risks associated with chemical abortion and ensure that women receive appropriate care.

Additionally, the letters raise troubling questions about the lack of transparency among certain manufacturers, including limited public information about corporate leadership, manufacturing locations, and distribution practices.

“Women deserve real medical care, not drugs dispensed through anonymous websites with little to no oversight,” Tobias said. “We commend the Senate HELP Committee for taking these concerns seriously and look forward to meaningful action that prioritizes women’s health and safety.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.