Supreme Court Rejects Attempt to Restrict Access to Mifepristone Nationwide
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2024 (Updated: June 13, 2024, 3:05 p.m.)
Seattle, WA — Today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that anti-abortion doctors lacked standing to challenge the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, meaning access to the critical medication remains unchanged. The court did not rule in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al on the merits of the challenges brought forth by the plaintiffs. The decision means that the drug will remain available to patients, despite unprecedented attempts to deny access to a proven safe and effective option to end a pregnancy.
Mifepristone has been FDA-approved for more than 23 years and is one of two medicines most commonly used in medication abortion in the United States. Availability of mifepristone is essential to ensure people have access to abortion, with 63% of abortion patients choosing medication abortion in 2023.
Statement from Planned Parenthood Great Northwest Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky CEO Rebecca Gibron:
“While we are of course relieved to see this result, the truth is that we should’ve never gotten to this point. From the beginning, this was a politically-motivated case that completely disregards years of evidence that Mifepristone is safe and effective. Maintaining access to this FDA-approved medication was the bare minimum.
To our patients in Alaska, Hawaiʻi, and Washington, we know how important it is that all health care options remain available and accessible to you, including Mifepristone. It’s crucial that everyone is able to make decisions based on what’s best for their body.”
Read more about the lawsuit here.
###
Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK) is a leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. The organization operates health centers in Alaska, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Western Washington and provides medical services and sexuality education for thousands of people each year. Planned Parenthood is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and relies heavily on charitable donations to ensure our patients' ability to determine their own destinies and receive the health care they need.