{"id":347045,"date":"2025-11-06T18:52:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T23:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cltampa.com\/?p=347045"},"modified":"2025-11-06T18:53:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T23:53:00","slug":"florida-ag-sues-planned-parenthood-over-abortion-pill-safety-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cltampa.com\/news\/florida-ag-sues-planned-parenthood-over-abortion-pill-safety-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida AG sues Planned Parenthood over abortion pill safety claim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on July 15, 2025 Credit:<\/span> Photo via AGJamesUthmeier\/X<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing Planned Parenthood of falsely advertising that abortion medication is \u201csafer than Tylenol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit, filed in Santa Rosa County circuit court, targets claims by Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. and affiliates Planned Parenthood Action Fund Inc., Planned Parenthood of Florida Inc. and Planned Parenthood Florida Action Inc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 37-page lawsuit focuses in part on statements about the safety of mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used to induce chemical abortions. As an example, Planned Parenthood\u2019s website says that medication abortion is very safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn fact, it\u2019s safer than many other medicines like penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra. Serious problems are rare, but like all medicines, there can be risks,\u201d the website says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit alleges that Planned Parenthood\u2019s safety claim is \u201cmanifestly false\u201d and \u201cbadly misleads the women who seek information about the safety and risks of chemical abortion.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit relies in part on research conducted by anti-abortion groups such as the Ethics & Public Policy Center, which bills itself on its website as the \u201cpremier institute working to apply the riches of the Jewish and Christian traditions to contemporary questions of law, culture, and politics, in pursuit of America\u2019s continued civic and cultural renewal.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uthmeier’s lawsuit asks a judge to find that Planned Parenthood\u2019s \u201ccampaign to induce women to purchase abortion drugs by misrepresenting the risks of chemical abortion\u201d violates state law prohibiting deceptive and unfair trade practices and constitutes a pattern of racketeering activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attorney general also is seeking up to $350 million in penalties, or $10,000 each for an estimated 35,000 chemical abortions, and other fines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the lawsuit asks the court for \u201cany additional relief,\u201d including the \u201cdissolution or reorganization of any or all of defendants\u2019 enterprises\u201d or the \u201csuspension and revocation\u201d of any state licenses or permits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uthmeier\u00a0was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as attorney general in February. As the governor’s chief of staff last year,\u00a0Uthmeier worked closely with DeSantis to help defeat a 2024 proposed constitutional amendment aimed at expanding abortion rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal was launched after the Republican-controlled Legislature and DeSantis approved a ban on abortions after six weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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