any texan can now sue docs

• Texas has officially added a new attempt at punishing out-of-state abortion providers: any citizen can sue anyone involved with sending the pills to the state. And penalties start at $100,000. 
   
• CBS has a good overview of where things stand on the FDA possibly removing "black box" warnings from hormone replacement therapy for women in menopause.
   
• The stockpile of USAID contraceptives that were set to be burned in Belgium still exist--and local officials say the Trump administration hasn't even sought local exemptions required to do it. 

What: Around 50 women’s rights activists protested outside the US Embassy in Brussels against Trump administration plans to incinerate $9 million worth of contraceptives stored in Belgium. The supplies, originally meant for women in African countries facing conflict or displacement, could prevent hundreds of maternal deaths and thousands of unwanted pregnancies if distributed. US officials say no final decision has been made, while Belgian authorities note that burning the goods would require exemptions that have not been requested.

Key Line: "The regional government in Flanders, where they are stored, has a ban on incinerating reusable goods. They can only be burned 'if an exemption from the incineration ban is granted by the Minister for the Environment and a double levy on waste incineration is paid,' said the ministry’s communications chief, Tom Demeyer. 'No such exemption has been requested or granted to date,' he told the AP on Wednesday."

Source: AP via ABC News
 

South Carolina Senate Considers Abortion Ban To Criminally Charge Doctors, Patients

What: South Carolina lawmakers are holding a hearing on Oct. 1 for Senate Bill 323, which not only bans abortion entirely (removing existing exemptions), but also *criminalizes* patients and providers, and even outlaws sharing information or helping someone seek care.

Key Line: "This bill doesn’t just ban abortion; it criminalizes doctors, patients, families, and even neighbors who share information or offer support. It is an unprecedented attack on health care, free speech, and the basic freedoms we have relied on for generations."

Source: SC Daily Gazette

Texas' New Abortion Law Tries to Fine Out-of-State Docs Starting at $100,000

What: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new law allowing any citizen to sue anyone involved in making, mailing, or distributing abortion pills tied to the state, with penalties starting at $100,000. Out-of-state abortion providers using shield laws said they will keep mailing pills to Texans despite threats of lawsuits. The law, effective December 4, marks the first direct challenge to shield laws and intensifies the fight over telemedicine abortions, which by late 2024 accounted for a quarter of U.S. abortions.

Key Line: "Many post-Roe abortion pill providers, Rebouché pointed out, have already accepted that their work involves a great deal of risk. 'But it might chill, it might hamper or dissuade people who don’t want to be implicated, who don’t want to face the risk of liability.'”

Source: The Guardian
 

FDA Weighs Removing Black Box Warnings on Menopause Hormone Therapy

What: The FDA is considering pulling back its strictest health warnings on menopause hormone therapy, as newer research shows risks depend heavily on age and timing, not just the treatment itself. Many experts support the move, while 76 doctors have urged caution and demanded a public hearing before any changes.

Key Line: "More recent studies show that timing of treatment matters — a woman's age when she begins menopause hormone therapy, along with the delivery method, can substantially mitigate risks, Gounder says. It's 'an example of [how] science evolves,' Gounder said of recent studies. Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for a lot of perimenopausal symptoms, according to Gounder, who stressed that patients need to sit down with their doctors to determine what is right for them."

Source: CBS News

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Missed Around the World

What: A group of symptoms ranging from vaginal dryness to more frequent UTIs, known as genitourinary syndrome of medicine, affects 25%–70% of women during menopause in France. Despite those numbers, it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, with stigma around discussing menopause adding to delays in care. Nonhormonal lubricants are first-line treatment; local estrogen is used if symptoms persist.

Key Line: " In France, 48% of women younger than 50 years consider it difficult to talk about menopause, whether within their relationship or with their healthcare professional, and 34% of women aged 45-54 years said in 2019 that there was not enough information on this subject."

Source: Medscape