Supreme Court Preserves Access to Widely Used Abortion Medication, Mifepristone
Case Sought to Restrict FDA's Approval of Abortion Pill
Court Upholds Abortion Rights in Significant Ruling
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an attempt to erase the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone, a widely available abortion medication. The 5-4 decision preserves access to one of the most common methods of abortion in the United States.
The case, known as Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, was brought by a group of anti-abortion activists seeking to restrict access to mifepristone. The plaintiffs argued that the FDA had not adequately reviewed the safety and efficacy of the drug before approving it in 2000.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the FDA had followed proper procedures in approving mifepristone and that the drug is safe and effective for its intended use. The Court also rejected the plaintiffs' argument that the FDA should have considered the drug's purported "off-label" uses in making its decision.
The ruling is a significant victory for abortion rights advocates and is expected to help ensure continued access to mifepristone, which is used in more than half of all abortions in the United States.
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