Dr. Ingrid Skop, dressed in her white doctor’s coat, recently rallied anti-abortion activists at the Texas Capitol on a chilly winter day. “The sun is shining on us. I think someone is happy with what we’re doing,” she smiled, addressing the crowd. Skop then criticized the FDA’s regulation of Mifepristone, a medication used for abortions. “One out of 20 women ends up needing emergency surgery with these dangerous pills,” she asserted. This statistic refers to vacuum aspiration, a common and low-risk procedure used in miscarriage care.
Skop serves as the vice president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. In fact, it works to elect anti-abortion candidates. It aims to counter the scientific consensus that abortion care is safe by producing studies that argue otherwise. It has gained prominence since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. They have often justified abortion bans that most Americans don’t support.
A federal ruling cited two studies led by its vice president, James Studnicki, challenging Mifepristone’s approval. Skop is part of the group that brought the original lawsuit. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on a narrower version of the case soon.
However, the institute has faced criticism. The journal that published the two studies retracted them, with critics arguing they were flawed and misleading.
In May, Skop’s appointment to the Texas maternal mortality review committee sparked outrage among maternal health advocates and abortion rights supporters. Specifically, they see her positions as ideological and conflicting with the committee’s mission to improve maternal health.
Dr. Ingrid Skop and her colleagues have become key experts for conservative lawmakers. Skop claims, “Abortion activists dominate the scientific community,” arguing that her institute provides an alternative perspective.
Despite the retractions, the institute’s studies continue to be cited by politicians and judges, shaping abortion laws across the country. The Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on Mifepristone could further impact its availability, showcasing the institute’s ongoing influence in the anti-abortion movement.
What do you think about the Charlotte Lozier Institute’s influence on abortion legislation? Do you believe their research effectively counters the established scientific consensus? How does it affect the rights of women?
We would love to hear your views, please join the conversation!
