With the ongoing debates surrounding reproductive rights and access to safe and effective abortion options in the U.S., we spoke with Imani Wilson-Shabazz, Partnerships and Engagement Manager at Plan C Pills. Imani shared insights on the work and impact of Plan C, some of the challenges they face around the recent mifepristone FDA case, and why it can be important for some people to get abortion pills before they actually need them.
Plan C Pills is dedicated to expanding access to safe and effective abortion. They provide essential information and resources for those looking for a safe and private way to terminate a pregnancy. Using tech and telemedicine, their platform connects patients with medical professionals who can provide not only abortion pills but guidance and support throughout the process.
Can you tell me about your role at Plan C and the mission of the work?
I am the partnerships and engagement manager at Plan C. I work with outside organizations to help them spread information about self-managed abortion, or medication abortion. I work on media opportunities, sharing information about Plan C at events, and informational webinars. Plan C is a non-profit information campaign about self-managed abortion access in the US. It’s a completely digital public health campaign. And we solely exist to get the information out there so that people can have all the resources that they need to make the decision that is going to be best for them.
Why do you think it's important to be working with Plan C?
I've been working in the sexual reproductive health space for a while now. I wasn't on the abortion side of things at first, but as time went on, and more and more abortion restrictions popped up, it became really clear that self-managed abortion was going to become an option that was very, very useful for people. Especially in places where they couldn't access clinics or traditional telehealth abortion services, because their state's laws prohibited it. Coming from Georgia, which was one of those restricted places, I felt like this was a personal way to help people who I knew and then just people in general access the care that they needed.
What’s Plan C’s ideal future?
Our vision is really just a world in which the ability to end an early pregnancy is in the hands of the people who want it. So really centering self-determination in health care decisions. As a society, we're moving towards wanting to take charge of our own healthcare decisions, and de-medicalizing certain things.
How does the FDA’s impending decision to remove mifepristone (one of the medicines used for an abortion) impact the work you all do at Plan C?
It's interesting because it's one of those things where it changes everything, but nothing at all at the same time. The basis of the lawsuit claims that mifepristone went through an expedited approval process [with the FDA] way back when. And what they’re saying is, because they went through that expedited approval process, they don't really think it’s safe. This is contrary to evidence of its safety by multiple health organizations, like the World Health Organization and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. So if the Judge does end up siding with the plaintiffs, Mifepristone would have to be resubmitted for FDA approval which could take multiple years. I still think it would be re-approved because we already know that it's safe, but it would take a long time. But people can still have self-managed abortions with misoprostol alone. Telehealth abortion could still happen, and people can still access abortion pills. So we'll still give that information to help people find where they can access those pills, but it’s going to be a frustrating time.
Can you tell us a little bit about “advanced provisions”? Why might it be essential to plan ahead?
Advanced provision is really cool because it's been around for a long time. And people do it with all sorts of medications. It's essentially just getting a prescription before you need it to be able to use whenever you need it later on. In the case of abortion pills, it can be really helpful because then someone can have them on hand in case they ever need them. Instead of having to wait for them to come in the mail, they can have them right then and there. As soon as someone finds out that they're pregnant and don't want to be they can take them as soon as possible. That can be particularly comforting for people who may be in states that have abortion bans that are six weeks or really early because you don't have to wait. Or, if they just want the peace of mind to have them around, no matter what state they’re in, it can be helpful so they don't have to go through the anxious process of waiting for pills to come in the mail.
All around it can be a really great method of accessing pills before they're needed. It's important now because we're seeing more and more restrictions pop up. We don't really know what is going to come through the pipeline with the courts, so it's just a good idea if having that peace of mind is something that's important to you.
More Support and Resources from Plan C Pills.
Note: This article is a paid collaboration with Plan C Pills. Learn more about collaborating with us to support our mission and share vital resources here.
