All you need to know about the ongoing battle over abortion pill mifepristone in US

The US Supreme Court on Friday ruled to block lower-court decisions that would have restricted access to mifepristone, an abortion pill used in over half of the procedure carried out in the country, while litigation continues.

The order has handed a victory to Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration as well as the drug’s manufacturer Danco Laboratories.

A number of Democrats and abortion advocates were quick enough to hail Friday’s decision, but they soon noted that it was just a temporary stopgap while the battle over mifepristone’s availability proceeded.

The abortion pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 for use up to seven weeks of pregnancy. The government agency – responsible for determining how safe a medication is – later extended its use through ten weeks in 2016.

But a conservative judge in Texas earlier this month issued a ruling barring the sale of mifepristone from April 7. A coalition of anti-abortion medical providers had earlier filed a lawsuit challenging the agency’s approval of the drug, saying it’s unsafe.

Keep Reading

The case went before District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Donald Trump appointee, who ruled in favour of the group’s request for an injunction on the pill on April 7. The decision would have suspended mifepristone sales in the country as the court case continued.

The injunction would have further restricted access to abortion services in a country where scores of women have already lost or started experiencing diminishing access following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.

Judge Kacsmaryk’s decision offered the Biden administration seven days to appeal before the ruling went into effect. In three days, the administration appealed and the case landed in an appeals court in New Orleans.

While on April 12, New Orlean’s 5th Circuit Court of Appeals passed a decision keeping the drug legal, it also upheld some of the restrictions from Judge Kacsmaryk’s ruling, such as allowing its use only up to seven weeks of pregnancy and preventing its delivery through the mail and instead requiring patients to arrange in-person doctor visits to receive the drug.

The Biden administration and mifepristone’s manufacturing company soon appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court to block the restrictions, resulting in Friday’s decision. But the fight over the pill’s access and other abortion services isn’t over yet.

Staff Writer

Politics, diplomatic developments and human stories are what keep me grounded and more aligned to bring the best news to all readers.

Recent Posts

Who Rules the Travel World? Passport Rankings You Need to Know in 2024

Traveling is something which every person loves. When it is about international traveling, sometimes we feel that visa procedures are… Read More

December 19, 2024

Trump and Musk Join Forces to Derail Government Spending Bill, Sparking Washington Crisis

President-elect Donald Trump and the Tesla and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk teamed up to scupper a vital federal appropriation measure.… Read More

December 19, 2024

Turkey vs. Israel: Competing Ambitions Redraw Middle Eastern Politics

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel the two of the big faces of the Middle East… Read More

December 18, 2024

Can the Middle East Restore Its Tourism Glory Amid Ongoing Unrest?

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing serious worries about tourism in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan,… Read More

December 18, 2024

The UN General Assembly Adopts the Resolution Prepared by Russia

UN General Assembly has released in their press announcement regarding the adoption of resolution which opposes the glorification of Nazism… Read More

December 18, 2024

UAE Climbs Global Ranks in Tourism and Quality of Life

The United Arab Emirates still stands out on the global platform, posting outstanding positions in the tourism development and human… Read More

December 18, 2024

This website uses cookies.

Read More