CNN host Brianna Keiler pressed Louisiana state Sen. Thomas Pressly (R) on why his state is restricting access to abortion pills when Louisiana has one of highest maternal mortality rates in the country.
On Thursday the Republican-controlled Louisiana legislature passed legislation, sponsored by Pressly, to reclassify mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly known as “abortion pills,” as Schedule IV controlled substances.
This means doctors would have to have a special license to prescribe the drugs and the drugs will only be stored in certain facilities which could put patients in rural areas at a disadvantage.
“So, why make it a Schedule IV?” Keiler asked Pressly noting that the drugs also have other uses including to treat miscarriages.
“We want to make sure that physicians and nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants have the ability to prescribe the medication,” Pressly answered, according to a clip highlighted by Mediaite.
“And we’ve got to make sure that women are being cared for and checked for ectopic pregnancies, as well,” Pressly added. And I think that’s important to, again, make sure that we were maintaining the doctor-patient relationship rather than having a friend or someone bringing medication into the state.”
Keiler then asked Pressly why not take action to combat Louisiana’s high maternal mortality rates since he cares so much about protecting women’s health.
“You talk about the importance of caring for women,” Keiler said. “Your state is 46th out of 50 for maternal expectancy. So, when you’re talking about there being better care for women, I mean, why aren’t you tackling that instead?”
“We are continuing to do as much as we can on pushing maternal healthcare into the forefront and make sure we’re doing everything possible to — within our budgetary means — to make sure babies are being born,” Pressly answered.
“I’m talking about mothers,” Keiler said, prompting Pressly to add “and mothers as well.”
