On April 7, the United States entered a legal and ideological battle over access to mifepristone, a synthetic steroid often used as an abortifacient in early pregnancy, following a decision by a conservative federal judge to suspend its distribution worldwide. the territory. Just days later, the Biden government appealed to the Federal Court of Appeals in New Orleans, ordering it to grant access to this crucial drug amid severe backlash.
Mifepristone will remain accessible, but under certain conditions
The mostly conservative New Orleans court then delivered its verdict on Thursday, April 13. Contrary to the Texas judge’s decision, the marketing of the pill would remain authorised, but the way to obtain it would become extremely difficult.
Indeed, the court established several binding conditions, which would constitute important obstacles to accessing the drug: obtaining mifepristone will be subject to a prior visit to a doctor’s office to receive a prescription (while it is currently possible to receive the medicine by mail), and will be limited to the first seven weeks of pregnancy (against the current ten). The decision, which should come into force this Friday, would mark a real step backwards.
Joe Biden takes the matter to the Supreme Court
The same evening, Joe Biden’s government announced it was seizing the US Supreme Court, in order to challenge the new restrictions imposed by New Orleans lawmakers. The government said it was ready “defend scientific judgement” of the American Medicines Agency (FDA), which authorized the marketing of mifepristone more than 20 years ago.
In fact, the argument of the Texan judge behind this disaster is based on the idea that mifepristone would pose a health risk, and that the process that led to its approval in 2000 would have been bungled to serve pro-political interests. abortionists. Absolute irony, when we see today the exploitation of this drug whose suspension would serve the political and ideological objectives of the conservatives.
Referral to the Supreme Court is a risky bet: six of the nine judges who sit there were nominated by Republican presidents. Moreover, it is this same institute which annulled the Roe v. last June. Wade, who until then had constitutionally guaranteed access to abortion, paving the way for a wave of locally imposed restrictions across the country. The future of mifepristone is therefore more uncertain than ever.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
