Heartbeat International will defend Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) in two significant court hearings on opposite coasts of the U.S. this week, confronting efforts to restrict women’s access to life-affirming information and care.
In New York on April 15, James v. Heartbeat International, et al. will be argued through an anti-SLAPP motion, asking the court to dismiss what Heartbeat contends is an unconstitutional attempt to silence protected speech.
On April 17, In California, People v. Heartbeat International, et al. will be heard at the summary judgment stage, where the court will consider whether the case can be resolved without trial.
Together, these cases represent a coast-to-coast challenge to the ability of pregnancy help organizations to share information about APR, a protocol using progesterone in an effort to counteract the effects of the first abortion pill when a woman changes her mind after starting a chemical abortion.
“Women deserve the freedom to make fully informed decisions about their pregnancies, including the opportunity to reverse a chemical abortion if they regret starting it,” said Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International. “We will always champion her right to continue her pregnancy and stand for the truth that no woman should be forced to complete an abortion she no longer wants.”
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These hearings come as abortion providers increasingly shift to telehealth and mail-order distribution of abortion pills, often leaving women without immediate, in-person support when they experience regret. Heartbeat’s Abortion Pill Rescue Network meets women in that moment, offering real-time information and connections to medical professionals.
“These cases go to the core of the First Amendment,” said Danielle White, Esq., general counsel for Heartbeat International. “The government cannot silence our speech simply because it disfavors our viewpoint. Women have a right to hear accurate information about their options, and we will continue to defend that right.”
Tweet This: The government cannot silence speech simply because it disfavors the viewpoint. Women have a right to accurate info about their options.
Declarations filed in the California case include testimony from women who underwent APR and went on to deliver healthy children, demonstrating the real-life impact of preserving access to this information.
Heartbeat International remains committed to ensuring that women across the United States can access compassionate care, accurate information, and the support they need when facing unexpected pregnancies.
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN) and Pregnancy Help News. Heartbeat is currently the subject of two lawsuits brought by state attorneys general concerning sharing information about Abortion Pill Reversal.
