Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had a hearing in front of the Iowa Board of Medicine discussing the controversial topic of a telemedicine abortion pill on Aug. 31.

The abortion pill was developed in 1980 and was studied and deemed successful in Europe for two decades before it was approved by the FDA in the United States. Since then, many women have used this medication as an early option for abortion.

The board is concerned that the women are not getting safe health care, which is a complete disregard for the decades of research that have proven this to be a safe and effective method of birth control. Abortions have become one of the more common procedures for women nationwide.

Today, Planned Parenthood has an option for women who can’t reach one of their 17 Iowa locations. These women are able to go to a local clinic and have an exam and ultrasound done by a trained technician. The women’s doctors are then contacted via video communication. Their doctor will then ask them if they have any questions and if they are sure with their decision and possibly give the women a moment to think, if needed. By a computer code, the doctor will open a drawer in front of the woman and watch her take the pill. The woman is given the second pill to take at home at a later time. This “telemedicine” ensures that it is a relatively safe, quick process.

This topic was already discussed and dismissed two years ago in front of the Iowa board. It was recently brought back to the attention of the board because of a petition that was issued in June. Since the last time this topic was discussed, many board members have been replaced; now each person on the board has been appointed by Terry Branstad who supports anti-abortion rights legislation.

Telemedicine has been around for more than 40 years, if not always by video connection, then through some form of technology. This form of medicinal administration is used for a wide variety of medical practices, not just the abortion pill.

Another concern, voiced by Dr. Greg Hoversten, chairman of the board, is that Iowa is one of the first states to administer medicine this way: “Iowa women are the first ones to get this in this fashion. There is something wrong there. It just doesn’t seem right.”

It can be scary to do something new, but to strive for innovation and medical advancement is commendable. Not to mention, this issue was already dismissed two years ago because the telemedicine was developed 33 years ago and approved by the FDA 13 years ago, so it’s not as new as Hoversten makes it seem.

There have been over 3,000 women in Iowa who have participated in this procedure; none have complained or voiced concern. There seems to be no medical issue.

This system of telemedicine is essential for rural states like Iowa. There are only 17 Planned Parenthood of the Heartland locations in Iowa. Additionally, several nearby locations such as those in Nebraska can’t provide the service. Nebraska is one of the 11 states that have made this procedure illegal.

Abortion has always been a controversial issue, and fewer and fewer doctors are willing to perform the procedure for political purposes. This is not cosmetic surgery, women can not wait around until the fog of politics have cleared around this procedure. It is a time-sensitive issue, always better dealt with earlier than later.