Supreme Court Temporarily Restores Access To Abortion Pill Mifepristone – Full Article

Mifepristone is one of two medications commonly used in abortion care, typically followed by misoprostol, and is approved for use during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. According to research cited in court filings, medication abortion now accounts for a majority of abortions in the U.S., with a growing share of prescriptions delivered through telehealth services rather than in-person visits.

The legal challenge stems from a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, where officials argued that the FDA failed to adequately consider potential risks when it relaxed dispensing requirements. Those concerns include rare but serious complications such as hemorrhaging or infection. In its ruling, the appeals court questioned whether the agency had sufficiently justified its decision to ease restrictions.

Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan wrote that the FDA’s “progressive relaxation” of safeguards around the drug “likely lacked a basis in data and scientific literature,” signaling skepticism toward the regulatory changes made in recent years.