Again, the media are fearmongering about pro-life legislations. The Tuesday edition of CBS Mornings where it was claimed that in some states it is now more difficult to treat ectopic pregnancies and other, non-pregnancy-related diseases.
Host Nate Burleson kicked off the segment by reporting “The fight over limits on abortion is spreading to some unexpected places including drug stores. At least one medication commonly prescribed for arthritis, lupus, and even cancer is becoming harder to get after the Supreme Court allowed states to restrict or outlaw abortions. Janet Shamlian has a story of patients who are caught in the middle and dreading the possible impact on their health.”
Shamlian began her report by hlighting 10-year old Noraa Wise, who “has been living with a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflation in her bones.”
After several failed attempts to treat the disease, “life changed, her mom says, after Noraa’s doctor prescribed methotrexate.”
Shamlian then gave a summary of Methotrexate, “It’s commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers but can also be used to terminate non-viable ectopic pregnancies where a fertilized egg grows outside the womb. This was after the Supreme Court ruling that was overturned. Roe v. Wade some women report trouble getting the medication by pharmacists concerned they could be held responsible for aiding an abortion.”
Norra’s mother Tyse was then showed worrying, “As soon as I started hearing about women in other states having this issue I started asking the question, “Is this going to be a problem?”
CBS Mornings didn’t Answer the question but base it on CBS Evening News The answer to that question is yes, according to Indiana law.
Not willing to accept good news, Shamlian shifted to Missouri where, “Annie England Noblin is a longtime user of methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, but says a pharmacy recently put her refill on hold.”
This bit of fear-mongering was also immediately debunked as Noblin admitted she still receives the treatment, “They needed to make sure my rheumatologist actually prescribed me methotrexate for my RA and not so that I could, you know, abort a fetus.”
Like Indiana, Missouri does not define removal of ectopic pregnancies as abortions, but Shamlian still encouraged Noblin to blame the law and not the pharmacy’s lack of reading comprehension, “It was immediate anger. I was embarrassed because I was in a pharmacy line and I—I– said, ‘okay, do you also need to know the first date of my last period as well?’”
To complete the trifecta, Shamlian traveled to Texas where she introduced “John Thoppil is as an OB/GYN doctor practicing in Texas, another state were most abortions are illegal,” whose office featured a poster of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In response to Shamlian’s questioning if there are other medications that can do what methotrexate does, Thoppil replied, “Unfortunately for an ectopic pregnancy, no. So, you know, if this is delayed, there is a timeline that this works, the pregnancy gets too far along, the only thing left is surgery.”
Texas, just like Missouri and Indiana, is not allowed to perform ectopic abortions. Maybe CBS should get their information from people who don’t have pictures of liberal heroes in their offices.
Sponsored by Cadillac.
This transcript is for the August 16, 2018 show.
CBS Mornings
8/16/2022
7.40 am ET
NATE BURLESON: The fight over limits on abortion is spreading to some unexpected places including drug stores. At least one medication commonly prescribed for arthritis, lupus, and even cancer is becoming harder to get after the Supreme Court allowed states to restrict or outlaw abortions. Janet Shamlian shares the tale of patients caught in the middle, dreading what the consequences might be for their health.
JANETSHAMLIAN: Noraa Wise suffers from a rare, autoimmune condition that can cause her bones to inflate. There was not much relief, according to her mother.
TYSE WISE: We’re doing therapies and everything we could but her pain kept increasing and she would be crying all night long.
SHAMLIAN: The 10-year-old Indiana girl says the worst pain was in her lungs.
NORAA WISE: It felt like I didn’t want to breathe. It was almost as if I were being pinched.
WISE: But, life changed, her mom says, after Noraa’s doctor prescribed methotrexate.
TYSE WISE: We started the methotrexate, it took about two weeks and she said she wasn’t in pain anymore.
SHAMLIAN: Methotrexate slows the body’s immune system and reduces inflammation. It’s commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers but can also be used to terminate non-viable ectopic pregnancies where a fertilized egg grows outside the womb. This Supreme Court ruling was overturned Roe v. Wade Many women complain that their pharmacists are having trouble getting them the medicine.
TYSE WISE: As soon as I started hearing about women in other states having this issue I started asking the question, “Is this going to be a problem?”
SHAMLIAN: Annie England Noblin is a longtime user of methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, but says a pharmacy recently put her refill on hold.
ANNIE ENGLAND NOBLIN: They needed to make sure my rheumatologist actually prescribed me methotrexate for my RA and not so that I could, you know, abort a fetus.
SHAMLIAN: Noblin lives in Missouri, a state banning almost all abortions.
When you heard that, what did you think?
NOBLIN: I felt an immediate sense of anger. I was embarrassed because I was in a pharmacy line and I—I– said, “okay, do you also need to know the first date of my last period as well?”
SHAMLIAN: John Thoppil is as an OB/GYN doctor practicing in Texas, another state were most abortions are illegal.
JOHN THOPIL: It is something that we often deal with.
SHAMLIAN: He’s prescribed methotrexate about ten times over the last year to end non-viable pregnancies and is concerned about potential delays in patients getting it.
SHAMLIAN: Are there other medications that can do what this drug does?
THOPPIL: Unfortunately for an ectopic pregnancy, no. So, you know, if this is delayed, there is a timeline that this works, the pregnancy gets too far along, the only thing left is surgery.
SHALEN: Noraa Wise sees this medication as a major game-changer and she will continue to take it.
NORAA WISE: I know the medicine works. I have no pain. It’s just, I hope that I’ll have my medicine.
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