Appeals court blocks mailing of abortion pill mifepristone in U.S.
Summary
A federal appeals court blocked mailing of the abortion pill mifepristone, requiring it to be given only in person in clinics. This ruling affects access to the pill in Louisiana and may lead to an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.Key Facts
- The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mifepristone pills must be distributed in person, not by mail.
- The court said mailing mifepristone conflicts with Louisiana’s ban on medical abortions.
- FDA officials under President Trump are reviewing the safety of mifepristone but have not set a date to finish.
- During COVID-19, FDA rules changed to allow mailing and telemedicine prescriptions of mifepristone, based on safety studies.
- Louisiana’s attorney general and a woman filed a case to reverse those FDA rules and require in-person dispensing.
- The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, allowing states to ban abortions, making mail prescriptions more important in restrictive states.
- The conservative-majority Supreme Court has so far allowed access to mifepristone but avoided full decisions on related legal challenges.
- The ruling could affect people in rural areas and others who rely on mail or telemedicine for abortion access.
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