The Womxn Project and McKee Blast Federal Judge’s Ruling Banning Mifepristone
Saturday, April 08, 2023
Two conflicting federal court decisions appear to set the stage for another U.S. Supreme Court decision PHOTO: USSC
The fight appears to be headed to the United States Supreme Court.
In one case, filed by anti-abortion activists in Texas, a judge said the FDA’s 2000 approval of mifepristone should be halted. But the court paused its ruling for a week so that it can be appealed, and that appeal is already underway.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn the second case, where Democratic-led states had sued in Washington to expand access to abortion pills, a judge ordered the federal government to keep the drug available in the 17 states, plus the District of Columbia.
Mifepristone is one of two medications most commonly used in medication abortion.
“Earlier today, a federal judge in Texas said he will suspend the FDA’s two-decade-old approval of mifepristone— giving the F.D.A only seven days to appeal before this defacto ban goes into effect. Separately in another case brought in federal court in Washington state, another judge issued a contradictory ruling holding that a nationwide injunction blocking mifepristone’s distribution would be ‘inappropriate’ said Foye.
McKee Tweeted after the Texas decision came down, “This is another devastating attack on reproductive rights. Make no mistake: We are committed to ensuring reproductive freedom is protected in Rhode Island.”
According to Foye, “Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago, and has since been used by more than five million people to safely end their pregnancies. Medication abortion or abortion using pills is extremely safe. Serious complications occur in less than one-third of one percent (0.31%) of medication abortions. Abortion using pills is highly effective with a success rate over 95%. In this time when it is more and more difficult to access abortions it is also a crucial piece of access.”
“Everyone should have the ability to make decisions about their own reproductive lives and futures, including choosing the method of abortion that works best for their circumstances. We must be clear that abortion is still legal in all the places it had already been permitted, even though this judge is trying to put up needless barriers to accessing mifepristone,” said Foye.
“The laws and the courts don’t keep us safe; we do. Regardless of this ruling, people will always self-manage abortions and support each other in self-managing safely and on their own terms. We will continue to speak out and show up to do all we can to ensure that when someone needs an abortion they can get it with compassion and without judgment or barriers,” added Foye.
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