Scientists Sue Publisher Over Retracting Studies On Abortion Pill Dangers
A group of researchers has filed a lawsuit against Sage Publishing after the company retracted several studies on the dangers of abortion pills. The researchers, all from the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, claim that the retractions were politically motivated and violated scientific publication ethics.
The legal action, initiated by ten researchers, seeks to hold Sage accountable for breaching contract laws in California when it pulled three studies earlier this year. Two of the retracted studies specifically addressed the risks associated with chemical abortions. The lawsuit is pushing for arbitration to address the reputational damage caused by the retractions.
Dr. James Studnicki, vice president and director of data analytics at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, was among the authors of the retracted studies. He criticized Sage’s actions, claiming that they were politically driven rather than based on scientific merit. “The retractions damaged our reputations and went against the ethics of scientific publishing,” said Studnicki, who was also removed from the editorial board of one of Sage’s journals months before the retractions.
One of the studies in question, published in November 2021, pointed to a 500% increase in emergency room visits linked to chemical abortions between 2002 and 2015, using Medicaid data as the basis for its findings. Another study, published in May 2022, highlighted the issue of women visiting ERs repeatedly without informing their doctors of chemical abortions. Both studies were referenced in federal court decisions regarding the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, a drug used in chemical abortions.
The debate over the safety of abortion pills resurfaced recently after Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris falsely claimed that a woman in Georgia died due to an abortion ban. In reality, the woman had taken mifepristone, further underscoring the risks associated with the drug.
Despite the concerns, major pharmaceutical chains like CVS and Walgreens announced this year that they would be dispensing the abortion pill, leading to ongoing controversy over the safety and accessibility of chemical abortions.