Tallahassee, FL: This morning it was announced that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a lower court decision that would make mifepristone, the commonly used abortion pill, less accessible. The court’s action sets up a collision between the Food and Drug Administration’s 23-year study and supervision of the abortion pill, and the circumstances under which it can be prescribed. Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000; the agency required the drug to be prescribed in person, over three visits to a doctor. Since 2016, however, the FDA has eased that regimen, allowing patients to obtain prescriptions through telemedicine appointments, and to get the drug by mail. It should be noted that Florida’s 15 week ban, and now 6 week ban, impacts access to all abortion options and patients in Florida can not legally obtain abortion medication via mail or through pharmacies.
It is also important to stress that of right now, mifepristone remains available and not subject to restrictions the lower courts said should be imposed on its use.
Below is Representative Eskamani’s Response:
Mifepristone is a safe, effective FDA-approved medication used for early abortion. In addition to a 20+ year track record of use here in the U.S., the medication’s safety is documented in more than 100 peer-reviewed articles. Leading medical and scientific organizations recognize it as safe and effective, including the AMA, ACOG, and AAFP.Mifepristone is now used in more than half of all abortions, and if the Supreme Court restricts its access it will have devastating impacts on abortion seekers across the country. This lawsuit was brought forth by extreme anti-abortion organizations who will stop at nothing to ban abortion nationally. We must continue to fight back — the right for abortion access and personal freedom must and will continue. We will not bend or buckle under pressure from the far right who intends to take us back in time and strip us of our freedoms.
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