Supreme Court preserves abortion pill access

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – In a unanimous decision the U.S. Supreme Court has preserved access to the abortion pill, mifepristone, after challenges from plaintiffs who argued the pill risked pregnant women’s’ safety.

This was the first major abortion ruling since Roe vs. Wade was struck down in 2022.

The court ruled unanimously that a group of doctors and medical associations opposed to abortion rights did not have the right to sue the FDA to stop the pill’s distribution.

The plaintiffs argued the FDA inappropriately relaxed rules for the drug’s use in 2016 and 2021.

The court’s decision did not address that claim, but rather the plaintiffs simply lacked standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place.

The ruling doesn’t prevent mifepristone’s use from being challenged again but does mean that recent steps by the FDA to make the drug more accessible will remain in place.

If the challengers had prevailed access to the abortion pill would have become more challenging, even in states where abortion is legal.

“ADF and our clients will continue to advocate for women’s health and seek to restore common sense safeguards for abortion drugs. We’re hopeful that the FDA will be held to account for putting politics above women’s health,” said Erin Morrow Hawley, Senior Counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom.

The Supreme Court still has several more major opinions to release which should happen by the end of the month.

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