Since two decades ago, abortion pills containing the substance mifepristone have been used in approximately half of all abortions performed in the United States. The drug is prescribed by doctors to medically terminate a pregnancy.
This is what the case was about
The ongoing lawsuit arose after an incident earlier in April, when a conservative judge in the state of Texas ruled to revoke the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, which was made in 2000.
The argument was that it was approved too quickly and that the side effects it could have were not sufficiently considered. Shortly thereafter, a federal judge in Washington issued a competing ruling, ordering continued access to the drug in 17 US states.
HD made a decision
American abortion opponents now want the abortion pill banned nationwide and a lawsuit was filed hoping to overturn the previous FDA approval. Meanwhile, the FDA is challenging the Texas judge’s decision.
The White House and the company that manufactures the drug have appealed to the Supreme Court and demanded that the restrictions on the drug be lifted. The Supreme Court decided on the night of Saturday, Swedish time, that the broad access to abortion pills is preserved. Pending the decision, access was restricted.