The NWHN Urges the Supreme Court to Validate the Safety of Mifepristone as it Prepares to Hear Oral Arguments in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ignored 23 years of scientific evidence when it restricted access to Mifepristone.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Director of Communications Adele Scheiber at [email protected] or by phone at 631 – 538 – 6348 for comments and questions.

On Wednesday, December 13, the Supreme Court announced it would hear oral arguments in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al. v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This court case will review the FDA’s decision to remove medically unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone. Since 2016, the FDA has eased restrictions on mifepristone, allowing the drug to be dispensed through the mail and retail pharmacies. The appeals court decision would have reinstated these restrictions, but due to a stay issued by the Supreme Court, mifepristone access remains unchanged until the end of judicial proceedings.

The National Women’s Health Network urges the Supreme Court to reject the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which ignored 23 years of scientific evidence that supports the safety and efficacy of Mifepristone as it prepares to hear oral arguments. Justices are not scientists, and this case not only questions the integrity of the FDA’s drug approval process but it questions the integrity of the courts. Mifepristone is an essential part of abortion care, and while the appeals court decision does not eliminate access to mifepristone, it makes it harder to access, especially for our most vulnerable populations.

The Network will continue to track and release updates on this case as it unfolds. For more information about this case and tips to prepare for the Supreme Court’s decision, we encourage you to consult our SCOTUS Survival Guide.

The National Women’s Health Network, a 501c3 not for profit, represents the health interests of women across the life continuum with an intersectional focus on sexual and reproductive health, maternal health and the health and well-being of aging women. We work to improve women’s health outcomes through state and federal advocacy, consumer health education, and grassroots technical assistance initiatives. For more information about or programs, services and initiatives visit www.nwhn.org.