NEW ORLEANS — Attorney General Liz Murrill says Healthcare professionals should have nothing to worry about when it comes to administering two medications at the center of a new law going into effect next month.
But local doctors say delayed access to Misoprostol and Mifepristone could have serious consequences for women.
On October 1st the new law, ACT 246, will turn the two drugs into controlled substances. In an Instagram video, New Orleans Department of Health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno said the law restricts access to the medication and could be harmful for a hemorrhaging mother.
“That drug is now going to be in some kind of locked cabinet,” said Avegno. “Which means that likely a nurse or somebody will have to leave the bedside, run down the hall or wherever the [locked] cabinet is located and do a series of steps to access the medication and bring it back.”
Dr. Avegno says those extra minutes could mean life or death.
“That’s what physicians are really worried about,” said City Council President Helena Moreno. “Reducing access to these drugs is really detrimental.”
Monday Moreno partnered with the New Orleans Department of Health to file a motion to examine the impacts of the state’s new law.
“The health department is really interested in tracking whatever potential challenges there may be,” said Moreno. “And then finding potential solutions to the challenges.”
In a statement Tuesday, Attorney General Murrill said doctors should not be concerned.
“There are plenty of ways that medication can be secured and still provide proper health care to women,” said Murrill.
Murrill says currently the drugs are too easily accessible, and the new law will protect women from exposure to coercion, abuse, and criminal behavior.
“A legislator’s sister was almost induced to have a miscarriage,” she said. “because her ex-husband was lacing her drinks with these drugs.”
Murrill says that example illustrated the accessibility of the drugs. When it comes to healthcare professionals she says the state’s department of health lays out clear guidelines for hospitals and physicians.
“There is no reason why any healthcare provider should be concerned about our laws exposing them to risk when they are providing necessary healthcare to a woman with an emergent situation,” said Murrill.
Moreno hopes the data local health departments will potentially collect could give legislators tangible evidence of what doctors are worried about.
“Listen to the doctors,” said Moreno. “Let’s listen to the people who are caring for caring for women who are in critical need of this medication. Listen to them as to how we should proceed forward.”
The motion, introduced with all seven Councilmembers as co-authors, will be heard on Wednesday at the Government Affairs Committee before moving on for a vote by the full Council at Thursday’s regular meeting.
Watch live at council.nola.gov.live and review the full legislation here.
You can read the Attorney Generals full statement here.
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