Supreme Court abortion case brings 19th century chastity law to the forefront

The US Supreme Court Thursday unanimously upheld access to abortion pill Mifepristone, rejecting arguments against the FDA making it easily available.

The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Thursday unanimously preserved access to the abortion pill Mifepristone.

SCOTUS's first such ruling since Roe v. Wade's scrapping in 2022, said Mifepristone's opponents had no right to sue over FDA's nod for or easing of access to it.

The Associated Press

In making an abortion-related ruling for the first time since it overturned Roe v. Wade's federal right to the procedure in 2022, SCOTUS said the plaintiff's lacked the right to sue over the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the pill.

In making an abortion-related ruling for the first time since it overturned Roe v. Wade's federal right to the procedure in 2022, SCOTUS decided the plaintiffs lacked the right to sue over the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the pill.

SCOTUS's first such ruling since Roe v. Wade's scrapping in 2022, said the pill's opponents had no right to sue over FDA's nod for or easing of access to it.

It reversed a lower court's ruling to curb access to the Danco-manufactured drug, reportedly used by around two-thirds of those seeking abortions in the US.

The Hill

It reversed a lower court's ruling to curb access to the Danco-manufactured Mifepristone, reportedly used by two-thirds of Americans seeking abortions.

Without addressing the underlying regulatory or safety issues raised by the plaintiffs, SCOTUS reversed a lower court's ruling. Mifepristone is reportedly used by two-thirds of Americans seeking an abortion.

Opponents said FDA's moves like allowing the mailing of Mifepristone to patients could harm anti-abortion doctors whose patients experience complications from the pill.

Guardian

In addition, SCOTUS left the door open for the plaintiffs to take the legislative or regulatory path to challenging access to the pill.

Bloomberg.com

However, the court did not explicitly back the FDA either. It asked the plaintiffs to take the legislative or regulatory path to present their reported concerns.

Opponents said moves like allowing the mailing of the pill to patients could harm anti-abortion doctors whose patients experience complications from the drug.

The plaintiffs, a coalition of abortion opponents, had claimed that FDA moves to expand access to mifepristone could put anti-abortion doctors at risk, including if a doctor was required to treat some dealing with complications from taking the pill.

CNN #8967

NBC #

The Associated Press #

The Hill #

Guardian #

The ruling, based on the plaintiffs' lack of legal standing, potentially opens the doors for a future battle against the pill — by those who may have the legal standing.

The ruling, based on the plaintiffs' lack of legal standing, potentially opens the doors for a future battle against the pill — by those who may have the standing.

FDA's approval for Mifepristone in 2000 overlooked significant safety concerns, including those that put women at serious risk.  All the more so when the pill is used without in-person examination. There is also an emotional and psychological toll, including trauma caused by the procedures. The regulator has ignored these risks, prioritizing access over well-being.

The FDA approved Mifepristone based on rigorous safety standards. It's now used in over half of all abortions nationwide. Allowing telemedicine prescriptions and mail delivery has only improved healthcare for women, especially in remote areas. Restricting access to it now will also potentially set a dangerous precedent where politics overrule science in healthcare decisions, causing real harm to women.

Abortion

Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

SCOTUS Keeps Access to Mifepristone Abortion Pill Open

Medicine & healthcare

Court system

United States of America

This might be a ruling to celebrate, but the elation unfortunately could be temporary. While it ruled the plaintiffs had no standing, the conservative wing of SCOTUS left the door open to a future challenge to the FDA's rules regarding mifepristone. This case had so many holes in it, it should've been dismissed, and future challenges should be given that treatment as well.

Salon.com

The Unanimous SCOTUS Abortion Drug Decision Isnt As Good As It Seems

It's disappointing that SCOTUS hasn't held the FDA accountable. Mifepristone brings numerous harms to women and doctors, who have been abandoned by pro-abortion factions and their media protectors. But this is just the first ruling, and future challenges to the drug's availability will hopefully lead to tighter restrictions and a safer environment for pregnant women.

Townhall

Supreme Court Hands Down Unanimous Ruling in Key Abortion Pill Case

There's a 3% chance that elective abortion will be banned nationally in the US before Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

SCOTUS Ruling Preserves Mifepristone Access

SCOTUS KeepsRuling AccessPreserves to Mifepristone Abortion Pill OpenAccess

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Go Deeper