Trump Administration Allegedly Discussed Unproven 'Abortion Reversal' Procedure For Undocumented Immigrants

In an exclusive report from Vice, reporter Carter Sherman investigates a controversial and unproven "abortion reversal" procedure allegedly pursued by the Trump administration in the cases of undocumented immigrants who are seeking to terminate pregnancies.

Scott Lloyd, a deeply anti-choice official at the head of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, had spoken about the complicated procedure and policy in a deposition.

The procedure would potentially halt a medical aboriton by using the hormone progesterone. Anti-choice activists have pushed legislation that would force doctors to inform patients seeking abortions about the possibility of reversal, despite a complete lack of credible medical evidence for the process.

Vice notes that four teens have come forward with stories about having their abortions denied while under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. In documents discussing the cases, Lloyd described abortion as “violence that has the ultimate destruction of another human being as its goal.”

Ultimately, the teen who was the alleged subject of the abortion reversal discussion was given the second course of medication that would complete the abortion safely. (Medical abortions consist of two pills, Mifepristone and Misoprostol, taken between six hours two days apart. Medical abortions are safe and almost 100% effective, according to Planned Parenthood.)

A spokesperson for HHS’ Administration of Children and Families would not comment on the situation but offered the following on the other cases of teens being denied abortions: “The minors in this case — who entered the country illegally — have the option to voluntarily depart to their home country or find a suitable sponsor ... If they choose not to exercise these options, HHS does not believe we are required to facilitate the abortion."

"There is no such thing as abortion 'reversal,'" wrote Planned Parenthood on Twitter. "This is, plain and simple, the federal government putting a woman's health in danger, and interfering with a woman's constitutional right."

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has not recommend trying to “reverse” a medication abortion, noting the potential side effects of progesterone. 

Because of the lack of evidence about "reversal" procedures, critics of Lloyd have accused him of experimenting on women’s bodies.

[Photo: Getty Images]