Nearly two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Supreme Court is set to consider limitations on mifepristone, a key drug in medication abortion. Doctors and advocates are voicing concerns over potential restrictions following the Court’s upcoming hearing.
In the aftermath of the 2022 Dobbs decision, 14 states have imposed total abortion bans, affecting medication abortion access. Restrictions in other states include banning mail delivery of abortion drugs and requiring in-person consultations for mifepristone prescriptions. As medication abortions constituted a majority of U.S. abortions in 2023, the stakes are high for reproductive rights.
The Court will assess if the FDA overlooked safety concerns when broadening mifepristone access, including mail-order availability. Two studies alleging mifepristone risks, cited in a Texas ruling, were retracted due to flawed methodologies and conflicts of interest.
Dr. Kristyn Brandi, an OB-GYN and reproductive health advocate, fears the consequences if mifepristone access is curtailed, noting that it would significantly affect those seeking abortions.
Kristen Moore of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project warns of a “dangerous precedent” if the medication is restricted, equating it to “breaking the system.”
Since its 2000 FDA approval, mifepristone’s accessibility has increased, including prescription without an in-person visit and availability in major drugstore chains. The Supreme Court’s decision, expected by June end, could reverse these expansions, impacting even states where abortion remains legal.
Arthur Caplan of NYU Langone Medical Center emphasizes the case’s critical nature, stating that a ruling favoring restrictions could effectively end pill-based abortions in the U.S.
Mifepristone, coupled with misoprostol, forms a two-drug regimen for early abortions, blocking progesterone and inducing uterine contractions. Dr. Michael Belmonte underscores its safety and patient preference, cautioning that access limits would harm those reliant on medication abortion.
Providers are bracing for negative outcomes, stockpiling mifepristone and preparing for increased clinic pressures. Misinformation about the legality of medication abortion is already causing confusion among patients, according to Amy Hagstrom Miller of Whole Woman’s Health.
Patient advocate Audrey Wrobel, recalling her medication abortion experience, asserts that the Supreme Court shouldn’t dictate women’s choices, emphasizing the personal impact of such decisions.