WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Abortion access returns to the high court, nearly two years after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade. This time access to the abortion pill mifepristone hangs in the balance.
The case could have major implication on the FDA’s authority to regulate other prescription drugs.
Mifepristone is one of only two pills approved as medication for an abortion.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments that will decide whether to reverse the FDA’s decision to expand access to drug.
” We have confidence in our arguments before the court,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The White House says the government is prepared to defend the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.
“It is independent. It uses science. It is a medication. As I said at the top that it has been around for more than two decades,” said Jean-Pierre.
Erik Baptist, Senior Counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, represents the abortion drug’s opponents. He says the FDA violated the law by removing safeguards for the medication including an initial in-person doctor visit.
“Thereby allowing abortion providers to mail these drugs without ever having to check women for life-threatening conditions or complications,” said Baptist.
The justices are expected to make a decision in June. If the court decides to roll back the use of mifepristone it could still be used up to 7 weeks into pregnancy instead of ten weeks, but it would be harder to get through the mail or through telehealth appointments.
