This will come to the US almost assuredly now.
These patients took the anti progesterone drug mefipristone (RU-486 - a competitive progesterone receptor antagonist) to induce a chemical abortion but then changed their mind and went to their doctors asking if there is anything that they could do. The doctors supplied the patients with the progesterone in previously well established doses of this long used medication of many decades to dilute the effect of the RU - 486 in order to try to save the baby as requested. There is a chance that the RU 486 can cause birth defects regardless - but the mother was fully counseled and chose to take that risk to save her baby. The rescue does not always work either.
The drug used to counter the RU - 486 (progesterone) is widely used around the world in pregnancy to decrease the risk of preterm delivery and felt to be very safe though any drug (even acetominophen) has risks, and these are counseled also.
Normally, the abortion clinics add in misoprostol to the RU-486 in order to soften the cervix and induce contractions to use in combination with the RU-486. The effect is within a day or two of this drug, so the woman calling have had their pregnancy survive the short term deleterious effect of this prostaglandin, but the pregnancy now faces the longer term detrimental effect to survival of the RU-486 portion of the abortion cocktail.
The rescue protocol was developed in the US and involves daily or weekly supplementation of the progesterone until the placenta is able to take over production in sufficient quantity - usually at 15 to 16 weeks gestation.
The push to punish these doctors came from the major abortion provider in the UK Mary Stopes International (now called Reproductive Choices).
One can imagine, having recently witnessing the politicization of medicine and off label use of well established medications what might happen here with the biggest medical political football of all….abortion.
The doctors set up a service to help those who changed their minds, and they were called and asked to respond when there is still a chance to save the life. The doctors now face losing medical licensure, and possibly worse.
Sorry for the 6 edits to produce this, it I am trying to post this from a touchy IPad
Link: https://www.ncregister.com/interview/catholic-doctors-under-investigation-over-abortion-reversal-treatment