by Angela Murray
Heartbeat International is currently on trial in California Superior Court in what is the first lawsuit involving Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) to reach trial in the United States.
In *People v. Heartbeat International, et al.*, the California Attorney General is seeking nearly $20 million in penalties against Heartbeat International for its promotion of APR through its Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN). At the heart of the case is whether state attorneys general can impose devastating financial penalties on a nonprofit organization because they disagree with the information it provides.
Heartbeat International has asked the court to affirm that the First Amendment protects its right to communicate about APR and protects a woman’s right to receive information about all available options after beginning a chemical abortion.
“This is the first case of its kind to go to trial, and its implications extend far beyond Heartbeat International,” said Danielle White, Esq., General Counsel for Heartbeat International. “A ruling in California’s favor would provide attorneys general across the country with a roadmap for penalizing nonprofit organizations that offer women information the state disagrees with.”
Abortion Pill Reversal has been available to women since 2012. The protocol uses progesterone—an FDA-approved hormone that has been safely prescribed during pregnancy since the 1950s—to counteract the effects of the abortion drug mifepristone when administered within 72 hours of taking the first abortion pill. According to Heartbeat International, more than 8,000 babies have been saved through the APR protocol.
As one of the first pregnancy centers in the country to participate in the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, our ministry has witnessed the impact of this protocol firsthand. By God’s grace, 19 babies have been saved through APR at our clinic alone. Every one of those children represents a life that was given a second chance and a family forever changed. Please join us in praying for Heartbeat International to prevail as they continue to stand for truth and for women and preborn babies.
Learn more at Heartbeat International