Abortion has once again become a focal point at the Supreme Court, where justices are deliberating on restrictions regarding a medication that is used in more than half of all abortions in the United States.
A conservative appeals court criticized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for not adhering to proper procedures when it relaxed regulations on mifepristone, a drug first approved in 2000.
The justices are scrutinizing rule changes made in 2016 and 2021 that enabled the drug to be obtained by mail and from medical providers other than doctors.
Although a ruling will not result in the removal of mifepristone from the market, it could make it more challenging to acquire.
Here's a summary of the situation:
- The case is being heard less than two years after the Supreme Court's conservative majority overturned Roe v.
Wade, thereby eliminating the nationwide right to abortion after nearly five decades.
- Mifepristone, which is used in combination with another drug to terminate pregnancy, is FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks' gestation.
- Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of Mifeprex (the brand-name mifepristone), argues that the 5th Circuit's ruling could have far-reaching effects on the pharmaceutical industry.
- Aid Access, a telehealth clinic, is using "Roe-bots" to dispense doses of mifepristone outside the Supreme Court, signaling that abortion pills will continue to be available irrespective of the court's decision.
- The Supreme Court is being asked to preserve full access to mifepristone, including allowing the medication to be sent to patients via mail.
- Three female lawyers are exclusively arguing the case concerning mifepristone access before the Supreme Court.
The process of medication abortion involves taking mifepristone, which blocks progesterone and halts the progression of pregnancy, followed by misoprostol to induce contractions.
While most individuals experience only mild symptoms such as bleeding and cramping similar to a heavy period, more severe side effects such as chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur. Serious adverse events requiring medical intervention are rare.
President Biden has pledged to defend the FDA's regulations regarding mifepristone, underscoring the significance of the issue in the 2024 election.
The number of self-managed abortions, particularly those involving medication, has risen since the overturning of Roe v.
Wade, with some telehealth clinics now mailing pills directly into states with abortion bans.
The Supreme Court's decision on mifepristone access could have profound implications for abortion access in the United States.