YouTube corrects 'context' disclaimer on abortion drug videos
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Erik Baptist regarding a correction YouTube made to its “context” disclaimer on videos ADF posted on the platform explaining the serious harms abortion drugs can cause women. YouTube made the change after receiving a letter on Monday from 16 state attorneys general asking it to correct or remove the misleading disclaimer:
“Women deserve to know the truth about the risks posed by abortion drugs, which is why first-hand accounts like the ones ADF posted on YouTube are so vital. Thanks to the leadership of state attorneys general calling out false information, YouTube has corrected its previously misleading notice. Because of the FDA’s reckless decision to end the requirement that chemical abortions be done by a licensed healthcare professional, women are now typically on their own when taking the drugs, without any direct medical supervision. That is why the YouTube disclaimer was flatly wrong and perfectly illustrates why we are suing the FDA on behalf of four medical associations, their members, and four doctors. The agency has discontinued virtually all safety protocols on abortion drugs, jeopardizing the health and safety of women.”
YouTube’s disclaimer on ADF’s videos now reads: “An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It can be done two different ways: Medication abortion, which uses medicines to end the pregnancy. It is sometimes called a ‘medical abortion’ or ‘abortion with pills.’ Procedural abortion, a procedure to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. It is sometimes called a ‘surgical abortion.’”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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ABOUT Erik Baptist
Erik Baptist serves as senior counsel and director of the Center for Life at Alliance Defending Freedom where he leads the team’s litigation and advocacy efforts to protect unborn babies and their mothers from the harms of abortion. In this leadership role, Baptist also collaborates with pro-life allies, works with Members of Congress and their staff, and engages with international, national, and local media on pro-life matters. Washingtonian magazine named Baptist as one of the Most Influential People Shaping Policy in Washington in 2024. As a member of the D.C. and Virginia Bars, he has litigated before the U.S. Supreme Court and many federal appellate and district courts. Before joining ADF, Baptist was a partner at one of the largest law firms in Washington, D.C., representing clients in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters. He also previously served as a senior executive service political appointee at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Baptist earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt University and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.