Most of the time, physical closeness between couples causes unwanted pregnancy. But the situation becomes worse when women get nervous and make wrong choices to end it. Such pregnant women look for pills to abort their unwanted babies to desist surgical bills, even if it means using the wrong method.
The increasing demand for abortion pills and the dramatic fight over abortion rights has actually given rise to an unethical underground abortion pill network, which is not only operating in illegal ways but today it has expanded all over the world. Now most women have started to turn to the unregulated world of websites selling abortion pills or MTP kits (a combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, used to end pregnancies).
According to a Wired article - 'while there are 24 countries in the world where abortion is completely illegal or prohibited (except in cases of rape, risks to the life of the mother, or when the fetus has anencephaly—missing part of the brain or skull), several underground abortion pill networks operate across the world, including India. These networks are unregulated and cross-continental relying on an underground supply chain of companies and non-profits that ship abortion pills to places where access is restricted.
The network also relies on discrete communication channels to connect with individuals in need of abortion services. This can involve online platforms, encrypted messaging apps, or trusted intermediaries who act as gatekeepers to ensure the privacy and safety of the network. For example, there are currently more than 200 illegal public groups and channels only on Telegram that explicitly mention selling abortion pills in their name or description. These dark web markets have fueled illegal distribution of such pills globally.
The emerging international network fueled by the widespread availability of medication abortion has made the illegal abortions of today simpler. The network particularly operates in a legal gray area, where regulators appear unable or unwilling to assert authority.'
However, the underground nature of these networks can pose various risks and challenges. Quality control and safety of the medications may be compromised here, as there is often no regulation or oversight. There is a greater likelihood of individuals receiving counterfeit or substandard pills, which can lead to health complications or ineffective outcomes. But, the demand for abortion pills, as well as their success at shipping them out undetected, are evidence of the thriving underground abortion network.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year. Six out of 10 of all unintended pregnancies end in an induced abortion.
However, it is difficult to estimate the exact number of women who use abortion pills worldwide to avoid unwanted pregnancy. According to a survey by NBC News, over 50% of abortions in the US are done with pills.
In India, abortion is legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy under certain conditions. As well as the government has banned the sale of abortion pills online and has issued guidelines to regulate the sale of such pills.
How does the underground abortion pill network works?,
An underground abortion pill network refers to an informal or illicit network that operates outside the legal framework to provide access to abortion pills. These networks typically exist in countries where abortion is heavily restricted or illegal, making it difficult for individuals to obtain safe and legal abortions.
In such contexts, individuals may turn to underground networks as a means to access abortion pills discreetly and without the involvement of healthcare professionals or legal authorities. These networks often rely on word-of-mouth referrals or online platforms to connect individuals with suppliers or facilitators who can provide them with the necessary medication.
The abortion pill network has its roots in Mexico, where some medications used for at-home abortion are available at a lower cost over the counter. Volunteers, who call themselves "pill fairies," source the pills at Mexican pharmacies and bring them over the border. The abortion pill suppliers are funded anonymously, reportedly securing the drug for $1.50 a dose from international pharmacies or free via donations. An unnamed group in the US then receives the pills through the mail and sends them to pregnant women seeking to abort their babies. The pills are shipped from one country to another, and the supply chain is often cross-continental.
Actually, these network organizers usually source abortion pills like mifepristone and misoprostol from various channels. This may include obtaining the drug from foreign suppliers, counterfeit markets, or even making the pills yourself. In such cases, quality control can be a concern, as there is often no regulation or oversight.
Activists in the networks use code words, aliases, encrypted messages, burner phones. Most don’t know one another, or any specifics beyond their role in the chain, basically such activists learn tricks of the trade little by little. Some of these entities are motivated by ideology, while others are driven by profits and opportunism; these networks always advise the patients on how to erase their tracks and avoid arrest.
Somewhere, the flourishing of these underground abortion pill networks is a consequence of restrictive abortion laws and limited access to safe and legal abortion services. The existence of these networks highlights the significant barriers and challenges faced by individuals seeking reproductive healthcare in jurisdictions where abortion is heavily restricted. Additionally, because these networks operate outside the legal system, individuals using them may face legal consequences if discovered.
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