The Colson’s Story
When Dr. Loren Colson and his wife Kristin learned they were experiencing pregnancy loss, they thought they knew what to expect.
The Boise couple had been pursuing fertility treatments and had experienced previous miscarriages. Loren is a family medicine physician who provides reproductive healthcare and regularly helps patients navigate pregnancy loss. Together, they understood the medical options available and what the next steps would be.
At a seven-week ultrasound appointment, they learned the pregnancy was not developing. Their doctor discussed several options for managing the miscarriage, including medication, a procedure, or waiting for Kristin's body to pass the pregnancy naturally. Kristin chose medication management, which is a common treatment used during miscarriage care and can make the process faster and more predictable.
The prescription was sent to a local pharmacy. Then they waited.
Normally, Kristin would receive a text notification when the medication was ready. When no message arrived, she called the pharmacy.
The pharmacist told her he was uncomfortable filling the prescription because of concerns about Idaho's laws. Kristin was stunned.
"Going through a miscarriage is a challenging experience to begin with," Dr. Colson later said in an interview. "At the time I was confused. This, to me, seemed like a very clear reason why this medication was being prescribed."
Fortunately, Kristin’s healthcare provider was able to send the prescription to a different pharmacy, where it was filled the same day. The delay was short. The outcome was ultimately the same.
“We know our rights very well and know how to navigate this issue. Most people wouldn’t.”
But for Loren, the experience highlighted a larger problem.
As a physician, he understood that the medication was legal and commonly used to manage miscarriages. He knew who to call and how to navigate the healthcare system. Yet even his family encountered confusion and uncertainty.
The experience also raised concerns about what could happen to patients with fewer resources, less medical knowledge, or fewer healthcare options nearby. For Loren, the story is not only about one prescription. It is about how uncertainty surrounding Idaho's abortion laws can affect healthcare decisions far beyond abortion itself.
Miscarriage care remains legal in Idaho. Yet confusion about what is permitted can create barriers for patients already experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Their experience is a reminder that pregnancy loss is already painful enough. When patients are forced to navigate uncertainty and confusion while seeking care, it can make an already difficult experience even harder.
See Dr. Colson’s full interview on KTVB.
