Medication Abortion

Medication Abortion in Family Medicine: Recent History

Insurance restrictions have not prevented all family physicians from offering medication abortion. Over the past decade, numerous family physicians have successfully integrated medication abortion into their practice. Before the release of mifepristone, some family physicians provided medication abortion with methotrexate,[15] and several participated in the US mifepristone trials. Most of these family physicians have liability coverage through their institutional employer rather than individual policies. The National Abortion Federation, the organization representing abortion providers, reports that 18% of its members are family physicians and 50% are gynecologists.[16] Numerous articles published in family medicine journals ( Table 1 ) and presentations at family medicine scientific and academic meetings ( Table 2 ) demonstrate that family physicians can safely provide medication abortion and that they consider it within their scope of practice.

During mifepristone's approval process, the FDA considered restricting the medication's use to gynecologists. However, the final approval allows mifepristone to be sold to "physicians who can accurately determine the duration of a patient's pregnancy and detect an ectopic (or tubal) pregnancy." All family physicians receive training in the determination of gestational age and in detection of ectopic pregnancy. Physicians who prescribe mifepristone "must also be able to provide surgical intervention in cases of incomplete abortion or severe bleeding—or they must make plans in advance to provide such care through others."[17] This language conforms to the way family medicine is practiced: family physicians treat to the extent that they can, and refer to specialists when indicated. Studies have demonstrated that surgical intervention (ie, a uterine aspiration procedure) is needed in only 0.8% to 5% of mifepristone abortions.[18-20]  Printer- Friendly Email This

J Am Board Fam Med.  2005;18(4):304-306.  ©2005 American Board of Family Medicine
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