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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

The week in fake news: None of this happened, but that doesn't stop social media - The Seattle Times

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:

Research shows medication abortions are safe

Claim: Medication abortions are dangerous, and result in high rates of infection and hemorrhage. Parts of the fetus are also left in the womb following the procedure.

The facts: Research shows that medication abortions, which involve taking pills to end a pregnancy, are safe and effective, experts say. Complications, such as infection, are rare. With a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could overturn the landmark abortion law Roe v. Wade expected soon, a post containing false claims that medication abortions are dangerous has circulated widely online.

The procedure, which typically occurs before 11 weeks of gestation, involves taking two medications, called mifepristone and misoprostol, in pill form to end a pregnancy.

“They are incredibly safe,” Emily Godfrey, an associate professor of family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington, told the AP. “Less than 1% of people who have sought a medication abortion have had complications.”

Alison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, pointed to a 2018 report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that found “complications after medication...



Read Full Story: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/not-real-news-a-look-at-what-didnt-...