13 WTHR IndianapolisIndiana Senate drops abortion pill dosage rules

Indiana Senate drops abortion pill dosage rules

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INDIANAPOLIS -

Indiana legislators have removed a requirement that doctors prescribe a higher-than-usual dosage of the so-called abortion pill from a proposal aimed at tightening laws on how doctors administer the drug.

The Indiana Senate on Tuesday removed from the bill a requirement that doctors follow federal Food and Drug Administration guidelines for RU-486. Doctors told a Senate committee last week that FDA guidelines issued in 2000 call for triple the dosage normally prescribed, which could lead to greater side effects.

Bill sponsor Sen. Travis Holdman of Markle says he agreed the guidelines were outdated.

The bill requires that a doctor examine a woman in person before giving her RU-486 and to schedule a follow-up ultrasound two weeks later.

The Senate is expected to vote on the full bill Wednesday.

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