PO Box 1472, Lander, WY 82520 | (307) 438-9272
Chelsea’s Fund is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN 83-0322262. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
© Chelsea’s Fund.
PO Box 1472, Lander, WY 82520 | (307) 438-9272
Chelsea’s Fund is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN 83-0322262. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
© Chelsea’s Fund.
Legal Action to Protect Abortion Providers & Medication Abortion
/in Abortion Ban LitigationOn June 4, we asked the Natrona County District Court to stop enforcement of HB 164. See Memo for Preliminary Injunction. HB 164 protects medical providers from adverse action by their licensing boards for prescribing off-label, but specifically NOT for the purpose of abortion. The two abortion medications — mifepristone and misoprostol — are commonly and safely prescribed for off-label use.
As a result, HB 164 indirectly bans abortion medication by threatening physicians and pharmacists with disciplinary actions for prescribing off-label use.
We stressed that abortion medication has a long record of being very safe, including in Wyoming. It is also the most common and accessible type of abortion in Wyoming, with no travel required. And of course, abortion is much safer than carrying a pregnancy to term.
Currently, the on-label use for mifepristone is only up to 70 days post last menstrual cycle. However, studies and experience have demonstrated that it can be safely used at least up to 12 weeks.
Misoprostol is the second drug typically used in the abortion medication protocol. While misoprostol appears on the mifepristone label, its own label does not indicate abortion — or miscarriage — use. Additionally, misoprostol has been shown to be effective for abortion used on its own, without mifepristone. In fact, for some individuals, misoprostol alone is the appropriate prescription because for that individual there are contraindications for mifepristone use.
We anticipate a hearing on our motion to stop enforcement of HB 164 late June or early July. HB 164 takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Beware: Anti-Abortion Ultrasound Vans Appearing in Fremont County, likely elsewhere
/in News, UncategorizedDon’t be fooled: Elevation Women’s Healthcare’s mobile ultrasound van traveling throughout Fremont County and reportedly appearing in Lander every Thursday is not about providing unbiased medical care or accurate abortion information to pregnant women. Their goal is to stop pregnant women from obtaining abortion care.
Elevation WHC is what’s known as a crisis pregnancy center and appears to be affiliated with Care Net, a “ministry” with a “laser-like focus” on stopping abortion. Care Net recently merged with a mobile ultrasound organization so now they are sending out mobile units to attract more people to their anti-abortion work.
The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a brief about crisis pregnancy centers warning of their misleading practices including asserting false risks of abortion, overstating the gestational age of a fetus in an ultrasound, advertising online using the words “abortion clinic” despite not providing abortion, falsely representing themselves as medical clinics by selecting names sounding like medical clinics, or misrepresenting their volunteers and non-medical staff as clinicians by having them wear lab coats or provide ultrasounds.
ACOG also warns that these centers are a threat to public health by lacking privacy, security and accountability; targeting vulnerable communities; spreading medical misinformation; and delaying access to legitimate medical care. See here.
If you or your loved one wants to be free to get an abortion – which is legal and available in Wyoming – please go to INEEDANA.COM or CHELSEASFUND.ORG to find out about your real abortion options, including financial support. You do not need an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion.
Preliminary Injunction Granted!
/in Abortion Ban LitigationJudge Campbell has preliminarily enjoined both the surgical abortion facilities requirements and the ultrasound/48 hour waiting period requirements for medication abortion. See Order.
Citing Judge Owens’ ruling that the health care amendment of the Wyoming Constitution applied, he Court relied on the “health care amendment” of the Wyoming Constitution. He found that the State’s assertion for the need of the surgical facilities requirements, including the admitting privileges, were without evidence. The State “fail[ed] to link the ASC requirements to women’s safety and general welfare.” He likewise found no basis for the ultrasound requirement, noting also that “a period of reflection…serves no legitimate purpose.”
This means that for now, abortion can be provided in Wyoming as it previously was. The case will continue to be litigated, but for now those provisions are enjoined. We still await the Wyoming Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the abortion bans following oral arguments at the Court on April 16.