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The Supreme Court keeps abortion pill mifepristone available by telehealth
TL;DR
The Supreme Court has ruled to keep the abortion pill mifepristone available via telehealth while a case against the FDA continues. This decision maintains current access to the medication amid ongoing legal challenges.
Key points
- Supreme Court maintains access to mifepristone
- Mifepristone available via telehealth
- Legal case against FDA continues
Abortion-rights activists protested outside of the Supreme Court in March 2024, when the overall FDA authorization of the abortion pill mifepristone. It remained available after that case. Jose Luis Magana/AP
Jose Luis Magana/AP
The Supreme Court decided to keep the status quo in place for abortion access Thursday.
The high court's order means the abortion pill mifepristone will remain available via telehealth as a case brought by Louisiana against the Food and Drug Administration proceeds through the lower courts.
The Supreme Court stayed a May 1ruling from the New Orleans-based, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals which would have banned mifepristone from being mailed for the whole country.
Thursday's decision came in the form of order from the court issued around 5:30 p.m., about 30 minutes past a deadline the court set for itself.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented publicly.
The appeals court ruling would have re-instituted prescribing regulations from before the pandemic that required patients to receive mifepristone in person in a doctor's office or clinic.
Q&A
What is the Supreme Court's ruling on mifepristone?
The Supreme Court has ruled to keep mifepristone available via telehealth during ongoing legal proceedings.
Why is there a legal case against the FDA regarding mifepristone?
The legal case against the FDA, initiated by Louisiana, challenges the authorization of mifepristone, which is currently being reviewed in lower courts.
How does the Supreme Court's decision affect abortion access?
The decision ensures that access to mifepristone remains unchanged, allowing patients to obtain the medication through telehealth services.
