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34m ago

Hawley–Verma Clash at Senate Abortion Pill Hearing Goes Viral

The viral exchange sharpened partisan lines over gender language during a HELP Committee review of mifepristone safety.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 4: Nisha Verma, an obstetrician-gynecologist and fellow at Physicians for Reproductive Health, testifies during a Senate Committee on Health hearing on "The Assault on Women's Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America" on Capitol Hill on June 4, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Committee is holding the hearing to examine the wave of abortion restrictions enacted in states around the country following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • During a Senate HELP hearing on medication abortion, Dr. Nisha Verma declined to give a yes-or-no answer on whether men can get pregnant.
  • Verma said she treats patients with different identities and described the question as a political tool rather than a medical inquiry.
  • Sen. Josh Hawley repeatedly pressed for a direct response, asserted that only women become pregnant, and cited his claim of an 11% adverse-event rate for the abortion drug.
  • The exchange, following an initial query from Sen. Ashley Moody, was captured on video that drew millions of views and fueled partisan reaction online.
  • The hearing, titled “Protecting Women: Exposing the Dangers of Chemical Abortion Drugs,” took place as policymakers and federal agencies review the safety and regulation of mifepristone, which is used in more than half of U.S. abortions.