Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, on Thursday, announced a lawsuit against four affiliated Planned Parenthood entities, alleging that the organization has violated the state’s deceptive trade and racketeering laws by misleading women about the safety of chemical abortion drugs.
The complaint, filed in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit in and for Santa Rosa County, Florida, names Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Inc., Planned Parenthood of Florida, Inc., and Planned Parenthood Florida Action, Inc. as defendants.
Uthmeier criticized the organization’s motives, stating, “It is vile that Planned Parenthood cares more about lining their pockets than providing women with factual information about the health risks of chemical abortion drugs. When it comes to health and safety in Florida, we won’t tolerate blatant lies using fabricated medical ‘facts’ that have no scientific basis.”
The “Safer Than Tylenol” Allegation
The lawsuit centers on Planned Parenthood’s long-running public campaign that promotes chemical abortion drugs as being “safer than Tylenol.” The complaint cites a recent example from Planned Parenthood Florida Action, which proclaimed on X that “Mifepristone is safe. Safer than Tylenol.”
The filing argues that this comparison is a manifest falsehood designed to induce women to purchase the procedure. It claims Planned Parenthood knows the drugs are far more dangerous than commonplace pain medication, leading to serious complications that routinely require emergency medical attention.
The complaint details the specific health risks allegedly being misrepresented:
- An analysis cited in the complaint found that 11% of women experience a serious adverse event like sepsis or hemorrhaging within 45 days of a chemical abortion. Other studies estimate this rate to be as high as 20%.
- It states that roughly one in 25 women who take the drugs end up in the emergency room (ER).
- The complaint also notes that since 2000, 36 mifepristone-related deaths have occurred.
Uthmeier argues that the “safer than Tylenol” claim is a dishonest comparison because it fails to account for the dramatically different usage rates of the two drugs, essentially comparing deaths from Tylenol overdose and misuse to the complications from mifepristone’s recommended use.
Profit and Legal Claims
The lawsuit asserts that the deception is motivated by profit. The complaint notes that the chemical abortion regimen costs the organization less than $100 but is sold for approximately $580.
This profit margin has led Planned Parenthood to shift its business model toward high-margin, high-volume chemical abortions, including those dispensed via “telehealth” and mail order without an in-person consultation.
The filing contends that these deceptive practices constitute clear violations of two state laws:
- The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA).
- The Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO Act), which alleges a pattern of racketeering activity.
Uthmeier is seeking sweeping penalties and injunctive relief, including:
- $350 Million in Penalties: The lawsuit seeks a $10,000 statutory penalty for each of the estimated 35,000 chemical abortions performed by Planned Parenthood’s Florida affiliates since June 1, 2023.
- $4 Million Civil Penalty: A $1 million civil penalty from each of the four named Planned Parenthood entities under the Florida RICO Act.
- Injunctive Relief: Ordering Planned Parenthood to stop making the misleading claims.
- Severe Business Restrictions: Potential additional relief, including ordering the dissolution or reorganization of the defendants’ enterprises and revoking the charters and certificates authorizing them to conduct business within Florida.
READ: GOP Senators Demand Answers On ‘Dangerous’ Generic Abortion Pill Approval From FDA
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