The original title of this post was “Wyoming Bans Abortion pills”. After review of comments and feedback by the Branding Iron editorial staff, we have deemed the original title to be incorrect and misleading.
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Wyoming senators passed a bill on first review that bans the use and prescription of abortion pills within the state.
Senators Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, and Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, all voted in favor of the bill, formally known as Senate File 109. Senator Fred Baldwin, R-Baldwin, represented the lone vote against the bill.
According to Section 1 of the bill, it is now illegal to prescribe, or use, any chemical means of abortion within the state of Wyoming.
The bill mentions a few exceptions to the ban, including allowing treatment of a naturally occurring miscarriage, or treatment which has been deemed necessary to save the life of the woman if the pregnancy is dangerous to her health. It also states that the use of pills may be permitted if a pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or incest.
The bill lists the drugs mifepristone, misoprostol, mifeprex, mifegyne, any generic brands of drugs previously listed, and any other chemical which is used to induce an abortion.
The bill needs to be passed in second and third hearings before reaching the senate.
Currently, only prescribing physicians can be punished for distributing the medication. Violators could face a fine up to $9,000 and a prison sentence up to six (6) months.
