A federal judge suspends FDA's longtime approval of an abortion pill, but gives the government 7 days to appeal
NBCNov 25, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, New Orleans' Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that US access to mifepristone, a widely used abortion pill, will be limited, mandating a ban on its telemedicine prescriptions and mail shipments. The Biden admin. will reportedly appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, has been used by over 5M women in the US as part of a two-drug regimen alongside misoprostol, as the pill has a 99.6% success rate and a mortality rate of less than 0.001%.
The Spin
Right narrative
The abortion industry has lied about the effects of chemical abortions for a long time, and this legal battle is finally bringing the facts to light. By approving mifepristone, the FDA put women and girls at risk of symptoms ranging from cramping and nausea to infection and bleeding. Facing pressure from the powerful abortion lobby, the FDA prioritized abortion pill access over encouraging women to consult their doctors. This has always been a political issue, but the public is only opening its eyes to that fact now.
Left narrative
If the Texas ruling is ultimately upheld, it will open the door for right-wingers to challenge the FDA's authority on more than just mifepristone. Based on the judge's opinion, the plaintiffs had standing to bring this case simply because they alleged — without a shred of evidence — that some people were harmed by the pill. With that precedent set, anti-vaxxers and other conspiracy theorists can convince a judge to overrule any medicine they deem problematic.
